Safety Tips
Here are some tips to protect
you against three of the most common criminal cases the Sheriff’s Office
investigates. There are many different
classifications of thefts and burglaries but the main difference between theft
and burglary is if the criminal entered a building, dwelling or vehicle, to
steal an item, it is a burglary. If the
item is taken without an illegal entry, it’s a theft.
Theft
Theft
is usually a crime of opportunity. Some of
the most common items taken are generators, tools and bicycles. These items are almost always left outside or
in unlocked/open garages when stolen.
Lock up these items when not in use.
Report
all thefts. Many people don’t call us
because the dollar loss is minor or they think nothing can be done. It is true that most of the time, the
property is not recovered. However, we
recover a significant amount of property during the year that we suspect is
stolen but have no way of finding an owner.
Also, reporting the incident helps us map crime trends and adjust patrol
shifts.
Auto theft - 99
out of 100 times a car is stolen in this county, the car is unlocked and the
keys are inside. It is almost unheard of
to have an auto theft where the criminal breaks into the car and “hot-wires”
it. Always lock your car and keep the
keys with you. Don’t leave valuables,
purse, money, day-planner, etc. in your vehicle.
Burglary
Residential 
It is
very rare to have a forced entry into a residence. Locking your house when you leave will stop
most burglaries.
Most
burglaries occur during the day while residents are at work or school.
You
know what does and doesn’t belong at your neighbors. Call us if something suspicious is going on.
Keep
a list of the make, model and serial numbers of items. Stolen items can only be entered on the
nationwide stolen property database (NCIC) with a serial number. Keep a copy at home and another in a safe place.
Auto
Again,
it is rare to have a criminal force entry into a vehicle. Locking your car will prevent most auto
burglaries. Unlike residential
burglaries, most auto burglaries occur during the night. Criminals usually go through an area stealing
from only the unlocked cars. Don’t leave
CDs, tools, or other valuables in your vehicle, locked or not.
Domestic Violence
Do
you know that anywhere between a third and a half of the murders in
If you are in a violent relationship,
please call the YCU at 1-877-723-5600.
They provide crisis assistance, safe housing, legal assistance and other
resources.