Police offer tips to prevent burglaries

By Emily Priddy

Southeast Missourian

Cape Girardeau police have responded to seven burglary reports in two days, but at this point, there is no reason to believe the cases are linked, a police spokesman said.

"At this time, nothing is standing out," said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Hickey said if officers see similarities between cases -- for instance, location, mode of entry or items taken -- they investigate the possibility they are related, but they make no assumptions.

"We take everything on a case-by-case basis, because we don't want to take anything for granted and try to guess," he said.

Hickey noticed the flurry of burglaries on incident reports the department sent to local media outlets Monday and Tuesday, but he said the number of burglaries from July 1 to Wednesday is actually down from the same period last year -- 43 this year, compared to 51 in 2012.

Crime seldom follows a predictable pattern, Hickey said.

"It comes in spurts," he said.

While crime can happen anywhere, residents can take steps to reduce their risk of being victimized, Hickey said.

He offered the following tips to discourage burglars:

• Use lighting, including motion-sensor lights and timers, to give the impression that someone is home.
• Avoid publicizing travel plans.
• Use landscaping such as bushes to provide a visual screen and make windows less accessible from the outside.
• When traveling, arrange to have mail and newspapers held.
• Get together with neighbors and arrange to keep an eye on each other's property during vacations.
• Install an alarm system.
• Use signage, such as "Beware of Dog" or alarm-company signs, to discourage would-be burglars.

"I think anything that makes a citizen feel better ... if it makes them feel comfortable in their home, then that's the right thing for them," Hickey said. "... Be cautious, but don't be paranoid."

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642