'Tis the Season!

Holiday Season Crime Prevention Article published in the Morgan County Citizen on November 30, 2016.

'Tis the season folks, you better watch out!

Despite the struggling economy, everyone is enthusiastically preparing for the Christmas holiday by diligently searching for that special gift for that extraordinary person. They scurry around totally focused on making their loved ones happy as they experience the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, all the while allowing their protective instincts to lessen.

Unfortunately, letting your guard down dramatically increases the opportunity for those with the “zeal to steal” to be successful. Individuals with a penchant to prey upon the innocent are constantly lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at the right moment to grab whatever is available. They are patient, relentless and equally as energetic in their daily endeavors as the discerning holiday shopper. Their total focus is capitalizing on the opportunities afforded them by the innocent and unsuspecting.

A miscreant‟s success depends solely upon their ability to exploit another‟s vulnerabilities. They discreetly observe gullible shoppers storing their purchases in their vehicles in shopping center parking lots while their nefarious minded cohorts patrol residential neighborhoods during daytime hours looking for other opportunities for personal gain. They proceed rather slowly peering up and down rows of parked cars as their buddies peruse countless driveways looking for just the right indicators that no one is home. Collectively, they look for the optimum circumstances that would increase their chances of illegally obtaining the property of another while minimizing their risk of detection.

Residential burglars cautiously enter driveways of residences that display the appearance of being unoccupied. They knock on doors to determine if anyone is home. After trying several times, occasionally the homeowner reluctantly comes to the door and startles them. They quickly ask for directions and immediately vacate the property. They continue their quest by approaching another home, knock on the doors but this time, no one answers. They then go to the rear of the home and knock on another door or two in an effort to ensure no one is home.

Once they are convinced the home is unoccupied, they alert their accomplices sitting in the car and they enter the residence. If any door is unlocked, they merely walk-in. If the doors are locked, they force their way inside. They quickly spread throughout the home looking for anything of value. Often times they bring their own pillowcases or plastic garbage bags to carry their newly acquired property back to their vehicle and depart the premises. It takes them less than five minutes and they are on their way with their illegitimately acquired gains.

Meanwhile, the property thief covertly spies the consumer placing packages in their vehicle and then returns to the store. The thief gingerly walks past the victim‟s vehicle, peers inside and spots the bags lying on the back seat. They quickly use a small window punch to shatter the rear passenger window or a screw driver to manipulate the door lock, reach inside and grab what they can and flee the scene.

Unfortunately, countless residential burglary and property theft investigations remain unsolved every year because victims cannot provide law enforcement with sufficient identifying information of the property taken, thus thwarting the investigation from the onset. Often times law enforcement is well aware of who the burglars and property thieves are and routinely confront them in possession of property law enforcement instinctually knows does not belong to them but without the specific information from the victim, the criminals and suspected stolen property are released.

It is sad to say but every day there are countless numbers of crooks patrolling the streets, cruising shopping centers and knocking on doors searching for that quick, easy opportunity. To successfully combat this recurring criminal activity, residents are encouraged to secure all new purchases in the

trunk of their vehicle which requires more time and labor for the thief to acquire. If placed in a SUV, the packages should be secured in the rear area and hidden from view. Nothing of value should ever be visible in the passenger compartment area of any unoccupied vehicle. “Lock It or Lose It” – even in the garage!

Residents are advised to secure their belongings in their homes by locking every door and window to include their garage, shed, barn, etc. This makes it more difficult for the burglar and oftentimes secured property quickly deters burglars to seek an easier to enter premises. Items routinely kept outside the home such as lawn mowers, ATV‟s, utility trailers, etc. should be positioned from the public‟s view and further secured with auxiliary locking mechanisms, etc. Photographs or videos of all items of value, especially jewelry, are an excellent method to document the make, model, and serial numbers, etc., which also aids law enforcement‟s follow-up efforts immensely.

Although not everyone walking through a parking lot or knocking on a door has criminal intent, there are many scoundrels who do. Thus, everyone must maintain constant vigilance of their surroundings and immediately notify law enforcement of any suspicious person(s), vehicle(s) or circumstance(s), so we can determine their intentions.

Yes folks, it is that time of the year again! Please keep your guard up and minimize opportunities for criminals to be successful!

Captain Christopher A. Bish, MPA

Morgan County Sheriff‟s Office

Field Operations

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