Spokane City Councilman Ben Stuckart used first-hand experience when arguing at Monday's council meeting that the city should hire more cops.

Two weeks ago, when he and his wife were in Seattle, someone knocked in the back door of their home. It was the second time within 15 months that their South Hill residence was burglarized.

In an interview after the meeting, Stuckart said the burglar or burglars took his wife's and grandmother's jewelry, cash and an electronic food scale (which he surmised won't be used to weigh food anymore).

 

 

Police responded when he and his wife discovered the door broken down, but he said the experience reinforces his concern about the city's lack of ability to investigate property crimes.

He said officers recommended that he install a security system.

"I was told to go to the pawn shops myself" to look for stolen items, Stuckart said.

Stuckart proposed three ideas for raising money or diverting money to public safety budgets. All lost on 4-3 votes.

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