City of St. George, Utah :: Residential Burglaries can be Prevented

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175 East 200 North

St. George, UT 84770

(435) 627-4000

November 21, 2009

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Residential Burglaries can be Prevented

Our evidence custodian spoke with me recently about being overworked. Not that he can't handle it. But he is alarmed by the amount of evidence that he is taking in recently. Our burglaries are rising. We're not talking about the vehicle burgs now, we're talking about residential burgs. Last year at this time we had 136 residential burgs reported. This year we are up to 183, 96 since July alone.

A friend of mine has a cabin up to Pine Valley. Does this sound like someone you know? Seems like everyone has a cabin up to Pine Valley. She came back after a restful weekend to find her home broken into, her personal property gone and her house ransacked. And this is not the only case like this. Another man came home early to find a vehicle that he didn't recognize in his driveway, his personal property in the back of the truck and doors open. He may have interrupted the burglar.

We need to be aware of our neighbors comings and goings. We need to watch out for them. And we need to thank those that are watching out for us. I remember a case where I responded to speak with a little old lady and her husband. They took me by the hand into their dining room. Two chairs were turned toward the big picture window overlooking their neighborhood. There was a pair of binoculars in front of each chair on the window sill. "Look at that!" she exclaimed, as she pointed out the window at a large semi truck and trailer that completely blocked the view from her window. "We bought this place so that we could mind other people's business! Look at that!" I got the truck moved. We need more people like that, and we need to thank them for watching out for us while we are at work or gone for the weekend. My wife got a call from our neighbor across the street not long ago about a white van that had made it's second pass up the street all the while looking at our house. He got the plate and told us that he was watching our house til we got home. Thanks to you, Stan!

We can make a difference if we will. Here's how:

Tell your neighbors when you will be away and when you will be back. Do the same for them. Write down suspicious vehicles. Call in suspicious people.
Stop the newspaper, the milk, water and other deliveries.
Have a neighbor boy or girl mow your lawn while you are gone and put out and bring in the garbage can and take down the notes that everyone tapes to the door or hangs on the handle. These things advertise your absence.
Eliminate any shovels, brooms or other sticks that can be used to pry with or open doors or windows.
Never leave any windows ajar. Check them prior to your departure.
Have lights on timers in the rooms of the house that you normally occupy, and have them come on at the same time you normally turn on lights. Make your house look and sound occupied.
Keep the serial numbers to your property on file, or mark them in some way for identification later. Some have come in to claim property only to be turned away because they could not prove ownership of the items. One lady kept the jeweler's drawing of her custom ring and claimed the ring with the drawing.
Join a neighborhood watch group, and keep active.

This is our town. We need to make a statement about what we will and will not tolerate. Burglaries are one of the things that we cannot tolerate.

Craig Harding
Public Information Officer
St. George Police Department

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