Burglaries around Jackson prompt security warning

Jackson police are encouraging insurance offices and other small businesses to increase security after a rash of recent burglaries.

Ten Jackson businesses, including five insurance offices, have been burglarized since Dec. 2.

The burglars have taken cash but not equipment, police Capt. Bob Bonney said.

Six-hundred dollars were stolen when the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority was burglarized on Dec. 2. On Dec. 13, money was stolen from Free Will Baptist Church. On Dec. 17, Stu Garrison's Farmers Insurance office and the Lora-Don Beauty Salon were hit. That was followed by burglaries at Cape Starter and Alternator on Dec. 21 and at Brent Wills' Farmers Insurance office on Dec. 22.

On Sunday, Defender's Services Inc., the Farm Bureau and Progressive Farm Credit Services were hit by thieves. And Monday, the law firm of Buerkle, Beeson, Ludwig, Jackson and Boneron East Main Street reported a burglary.

Police are developing some leads, police chief James Humphreys said, but have made any arrests.

"What they're doing is just taking whatever cash they can find," Humphreys said.

That has been up to $750.

Humphreys said this would be a good time for small businesses to make sure alarms are working or to put money in different locations.

Bonney said people should be on the lookout for suspicious activity at night.

"If anybody is out walking in places people wouldn't normally walk, give us a call," he said.

Wills' and Garrison's offices were among five insurance businesses broken into in recent weeks. Garrison said burglars broke in through an old mail slot in the back door of his business.

"Everybody has to make change," Garrison said. "I think they're just after what businesses look easy." He said his business was vulnerable because of a dark back lot.

"They tore through all the drawers, opened file cabinets and left stuff all thrown about," Wills said. "We have an alarm system now."

Janey Foust, who owns an American Family Insurance office uptown, hasn't been robbed but recently got a call from police warning her of the situation.

"We no longer keep any money in the office," she said. "Normally we would wait until the next morning to make our deposits, but now we do it before we go home. We're leaving the lights on in the building at night and checking the door locks twice before we leave."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635