Burglary rate rapidly increasing
Published 7:05 pm Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Home break-ins are rising at an alarming rate in South County.
The uptick in burglaries started last September. November figures are up 213 percent from 2010; December is up 225 percent.
What concerns police is that the break-ins are happening in waves, with several incidents occurring in rapid succession. And it appears that no neighborhood in South County is immune.
“It’s a regionwide explosion,” said Det. Sgt. Bob Barker of the Edmonds Police Department. “These burglaries are happening all over Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline. There was even an attempt made to break into my shed.”
Because of the size and scope of the reported incidents, police departments and other agencies are pooling resources to combat the problem.
Extra patrols have been focused on burglary activity. Street units also are paying particular attention to this issue.
Despite the police departments’ stepped-up efforts, Barker says that the most effective tools available are local residents’ eyes and ears.
“Call 911 when you see somebody that looks out of place,” he said. “Call if you see a stranger in the neighborhood. Call if someone knocks on your door and seems to have an odd story why they are on your doorstep. For us it’s like catching a lightning bolt.”
What police have pieced together is that groups of thieves come into a neighborhood in a car or van. They then fan out looking for homes that are unoccupied at the time and knock on doors to make sure no one is at home.
They enter by kicking down a door or prying open a window.
Once inside they look for jewelry, small guns, coin collections, iPads and laptops — anything that will fit into a backpack. Primarily they want gold that can be quickly sold.
Police suggest a few steps to protect belongings:
• Get an audible alarm system for your home.
• Photograph valuables, including jewelry, silver and tools, and when practical engrave your name or a unique number on them. Store that information off-site.
• Secure all doors and windows. Use 3-inch or longer screws on door hinges.
• Consider a video system for your home so that intruders can be identified.
• Bolt down in-home fire safes.
