[gshalin] Recent Spike in Home Break-in's: Similar Suspects, Methods
- From: "Ron Wimberly" <ronwimberly@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Governor's Square Hoa" <gshalin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:19:49 -0500
Not sure who all got this; I know that Sgt Stahnke sent this out to some of
you last week. If you get it twice, I apologize.
Officer Pharr
Patrol Divisions: Please share this information with your neighborhood
residents and others as you see appropriate. It will also be on the web.
Julie
Recent Spike in Home Break-in's: Similar Suspects, Methods
January 24, 2008
CMPD Burglary detectives are actively investigating a recent rash of
residential burglaries that have similar suspect descriptions and use
similar methods.
"While citywide, burglaries were down nearly 5% last year compared to 2006,
we have seen an increase in the past couple of weeks," says Captain David
Poston, who leads CMPD's Property Crimes Unit. "People feel especially
violated when someone has broken in to their home and stolen their personal
belongings. It is a major priority for us to catch the people who are
responsible."
Over the past month, detectives have seen a pattern to some reports of
burglaries and are pursuing leads to identify and arrest the thieves. In
fact, Hickory Grove division officers made arrests in a case today
(20080124132000) that fit the pattern of some other recent burglaries.
Detectives are interviewing those suspects and investigating to determine
whether they are connected to any other crimes. The suspects' names will be
released once they have been processed.
Four break-in's yesterday (January 23, 2007) in the North part of the county
had suspect descriptions and methodology similar to some burglaries that
occurred earlier in the month in the South Division. To date, 17 break-in's
this year in various parts of the city have had the similar suspect and
methodology descriptions.
Patterns of Recent Burglaries
* Suspect descriptions: when suspect descriptions are available,
witnesses report seeing 3-4 Black males, ages 18-25, most with dreadlocks
* Suspect vehicles: the thieves are driving late-model sedans or SUVs
that are stolen or rented
* Anatomy of these break-ins
* Most are occurring during the day, although there is no apparent
pattern to the time or day of the week
* The suspects are knocking on doors to make sure no one is at home
before entering the home, usually by going around to the back door and
kicking it in
* There have been some reports of the suspects entering through front
doors when the house design makes that entrance less visible from the street
* In some cases, when residents did not respond to the knock on the
door, the suspects broke in, apparently thinking no one was home
* When the suspects saw someone was home, they fled, often without
taking anything from the residence
* What's Being Stolen: these thieves are targeting homes with plasma
televisions and/or other high-end electronics or computers easily visible
through a downstairs window
CMPD detectives are following up on a number of leads and officers
throughout the patrol divisions are covering hotspots and working with
neighborhoods residents. In addition to providing information about cases
and safety information, they are teaching prevention initiatives and
encouraging residents to actively participate in-or start-a community crime
watch program.
Take Steps to Reduce Risks
There are a number of actions citizens can take to reduce risks of being a
victim of these burglars:
* Be on the lookout for and call 911 to report suspicious persons in
your area. Be especially sensitive to those who fit the descriptions in
these similar cases
* When you are home and someone knocks on your door, let them know
you are home. If a visitor is unexpected, say, "Please leave. I am calling
the police". If their visit to you is legitimate, they will provide more
explanation. If they were checking to make sure the house is empty, they
will leave.
* Activate your home alarm system, especially when you are not home,
but even when you are.
* Close blinds or curtains so valuables are not readily visible from
outside your home.
For more crime prevention information, visit cmpd.org.
Julie Hill
Public Affairs Director
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
601 East Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
704.336.4098
www.cmpd.org
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