At tonight’s North Precinct Advisory Council, a representative from the City Attorney’s Office told us what one apprehended residential burglar told officials about his methods: he said he didn’t pay any attention to alarm system signs because he knows he can get in and out of a home before anyone responds to the alarm. He also said he scopes out homes beforehand. He lingers nearby to see when residents leave and return. The representative also said that many burglaries are through open or unlocked doors and windows.
What are the lessons here? Don’t rely entirely on alarm systems. Lock your doors and windows. Be a good neighbor and stay on the lookout for unusual behavior on your neighbor’s property and don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 so the police can check it out. The police tell us time and time again that watchful neighbors are the best crime prevention and that officers are happy to respond to calls about suspicious behavior. And they tell story after story about how citizens have helped police arrest criminals by calling 9-1-1 in this way.
We were also told that a lot of residential burglars are minors who leave school at lunchtime, steal stuff, and then go back to school. As a matter of fact, most burglaries are in the daytime, not at night.
If you would like a free home security audit, contact our Crime Prevention Coordinator, Terri Johnston, at 206-684-7711 or terrie.johnston@seattle.gov.
Leave a Reply