Police say the numbers are shocking, even to veteran officers. From the beginning of June, 2009 through the end of September police in the Metro suburbs responded to more than 100 break-ins to homes and vehicles. Many of the intruders entered through garage doors that were open or unlocked.
Des Moines police have responded to 309 reports of homes and cars burglarized in the last 60 days. In most cases, the thieves stole electronics. On the south side alone, 32 homes have been broken into and robbed within the past 10 days. Again, the thieves were after electronics. Many of the south side break-ins happened in broad daylight.
Police say the best way to stop a burglar is to force him to move on to an easier target. West Des Moines Police Officer Tanya Zaglauer is a crime prevention expert who knows how to think like the people who want to get inside your home. She says, "When it comes to your neighborhood it becomes more personal for you, so (burglary) is something that we have to constantly think about."
We asked Officer Zaglauer to conduct a sweep of a home in the western suburbs. The owners think their property is secure, but in every room Officer Zaglauer found room for improvement. Zaglauer explains to the owners, "It would take (burglars) less than five minutes to get into this (basement) room, grab that T.V. and (they're) out, and nobody's gonna know what's going on, especially if you have low lighting back here (on the patio)."
Officer Zaglauer found patio furniture that can be tossed through a basement window and a sliding glass door the family thought was secure but clearly is not. Zaglauer demonstrates, "I can easily pull that (door) out of the frame and out of the lock and pull on that door, and it'll open it up, so you want to consider extra (deadbolt) locks on your sliding glass doors." Officer Zaglauer says the more time it takes a criminal to get inside your home, the more likely they will lose patience and leave. She says if you have a house alarm, you should set it even when you're inside. "You have the alarm," Zaglauer says, "You might as well use it."
But it's not just about what the criminals take. Sometimes, it's about what they leave behind. It was the night of June 21st, 2009, and a Des Moines mother thought a break-in would never happen to her. "The (burglars) knew what they were doing," she says, "They had done it before because they were good at it."
This mother and her son, we'll call them the "Smiths," were gone for the night. When they returned, they found their home had been ransacked. "(The burglars stole) jewelry, electronics, purses. They did a lot of goofy things, took things out of the refrigerator, knocked 'em on to the floor." Even the police were surprised at the damage. Who would have guessed that a locked house, with lots of exterior lighting, located at a busy intersection, could be that vulnerable? "Given where I live and the precautions that I've taken," says "Ms. Smith," "I had a good sense of security."
The "Smiths" have installed a new high-tech security system. But what about the rest of us? Officer Zaglauer has put her advice into a one page document you can print off. It covers things like, "Don't hide keys anywhere outside," and what to do if an intruder enters your home while you're inside it. The people we interviewed said they would definitely use it. "Ms. Smith's" neighbor says, "I'd even make photocopies and share it."
Anyone with information on the recent string of robberies is asked to call Polk County Crime Stoppers at (515) 223-1400. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest.
Des Moines police have responded to 309 reports of homes and cars burglarized in the last 60 days. In most cases, the thieves stole electronics. On the south side alone, 32 homes have been broken into and robbed within the past 10 days. Again, the thieves were after electronics. Many of the south side break-ins happened in broad daylight.
Police say the best way to stop a burglar is to force him to move on to an easier target. West Des Moines Police Officer Tanya Zaglauer is a crime prevention expert who knows how to think like the people who want to get inside your home. She says, "When it comes to your neighborhood it becomes more personal for you, so (burglary) is something that we have to constantly think about."
We asked Officer Zaglauer to conduct a sweep of a home in the western suburbs. The owners think their property is secure, but in every room Officer Zaglauer found room for improvement. Zaglauer explains to the owners, "It would take (burglars) less than five minutes to get into this (basement) room, grab that T.V. and (they're) out, and nobody's gonna know what's going on, especially if you have low lighting back here (on the patio)."
Officer Zaglauer found patio furniture that can be tossed through a basement window and a sliding glass door the family thought was secure but clearly is not. Zaglauer demonstrates, "I can easily pull that (door) out of the frame and out of the lock and pull on that door, and it'll open it up, so you want to consider extra (deadbolt) locks on your sliding glass doors." Officer Zaglauer says the more time it takes a criminal to get inside your home, the more likely they will lose patience and leave. She says if you have a house alarm, you should set it even when you're inside. "You have the alarm," Zaglauer says, "You might as well use it."
But it's not just about what the criminals take. Sometimes, it's about what they leave behind. It was the night of June 21st, 2009, and a Des Moines mother thought a break-in would never happen to her. "The (burglars) knew what they were doing," she says, "They had done it before because they were good at it."
This mother and her son, we'll call them the "Smiths," were gone for the night. When they returned, they found their home had been ransacked. "(The burglars stole) jewelry, electronics, purses. They did a lot of goofy things, took things out of the refrigerator, knocked 'em on to the floor." Even the police were surprised at the damage. Who would have guessed that a locked house, with lots of exterior lighting, located at a busy intersection, could be that vulnerable? "Given where I live and the precautions that I've taken," says "Ms. Smith," "I had a good sense of security."
The "Smiths" have installed a new high-tech security system. But what about the rest of us? Officer Zaglauer has put her advice into a one page document you can print off. It covers things like, "Don't hide keys anywhere outside," and what to do if an intruder enters your home while you're inside it. The people we interviewed said they would definitely use it. "Ms. Smith's" neighbor says, "I'd even make photocopies and share it."
Anyone with information on the recent string of robberies is asked to call Polk County Crime Stoppers at (515) 223-1400. A reward of up to $1,000 is offered for information that leads to an arrest.
