SECURITY EQUIPMENT SHOULD WORK AT ALL TIMES

With a rash of commercial burglaries in Cape Girardeau, it becomes more important that businesses keep their security cameras, alarms and other anti-burglary systems in good, working condition. Police say the majority of the 37 burglaries reported since February remain unsolved. Twenty-six of them were at businesses.

Security cameras and alarms are the best means of businesses warding off potential burglaries, but police say they have encountered instances of the equipment not working. One business had security cameras on, but the area was too dark to see what was going on. In other cases, there were no tapes in video cameras. In yet another case, the burglar alarm didn't work.

Businesses that have invested in expensive security equipment aren't making it any easier for police to solve burglaries if that equipment isn't working.