Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home police want the public’s help in solving and stopping a series of thefts and burglaries in the avenues.
“The nutshell is we’re having a serious problem with thefts, burglaries and unauthorized entry into cars,” Police Chief Bob Burford said. “A lot of the activity appears to be focused in the Avenue areas,” off both sides of Elm Street, from Fourth Avenue to 16th Avenue.
Citywide, over the first five weeks of the year, there have been 37 thefts, 21 burglaries and seven car clouts, Burford said. In 2005, which had a higher-than-average number, the city had 196 burglaries.
Police are seeing a considerable number of thefts in which they think the suspects are able to see into open garages during the day and then are returning at night and carrying off whatever high-value items they can handle, Burford said. They are taking items that are “not, for the most part, identified by serial numbers and the victims haven’t taken the prudent step of putting a number on the item.”
They are items that can easily be traded or sold for drugs, Burford said. They are items that can be carried by one or two people, including all kinds of electronics, power tools and generators.
“We have suspects in the cases but have not been able to gather enough evidence to make an arrest,” Burford said. “What we really hope is that the residents in the area will lock their cars and make sure that they’re property is secured at night – keep a little closer eye out and be wary of suspicious people and by all means call us no matter what.”
Burford urges callers to stay on the line with dispatchers and allow officers time to get up to the scene and talk to suspicious persons.
Thieves typically wear dark clothing with hoods over their heads. They often ride bicycles with a backpack or some type of container.
“The citizens know what’s out of place in their neighborhoods,” Burford said. “If they call us and tell us someone is out of place, we want to check it out.
“There’s no good reason for these thefts. We’re not talking about someone stealing eggs to feed a family.
“Most of the people we suspect and have been arrested multiple times have never worked an honest day in their lives. They subsist on the government dole, and they steal whenever it’s convenient.”
The department has brought in officers during their off-duty time to work these high-crime areas, Burford said, but so far, they have not been in the right place at the right time.
To protect personal property, Burford suggests applying a number or taking pictures of the item and a visible serial number. When the item turns up later, it can be identified through state and national databases and returned to the owner.
Victims also need to be willing to partner with the police, Burford said. They need to be good witnesses and cooperate with the police to make sure thieves are successfully prosecuted.