Open windows make burglary a breeze

Burglaries are rising with the temperature in Spokane, and most crimes are committed in unlocked homes, cars and garages, a Spokane Police Department crime analyst and prevention specialist said Wednesday.

“I honestly don’t think (burglars) are that clever,” said Sandy Richards, a crime prevention specialist. “They just pick a home and try their luck.”

But that luck gets better when would-be burglars find easy targets, crime analyst Carly Cortright said.

“The heat causes people to leave windows open. It invites burglars to come into the home,” she said. “Right now, our biggest concern is garage burglaries.”

Burglaries have increased in detached garages or attached garages in traditionally low-crime neighborhoods where residents leave their garage doors open, Cortright said.

Their targets are either items to sell for drug money, or purses, checkbooks or other personal identification items that can be used for identity theft.

“A lot of people leave their purses or briefcases in cars in garages thinking they are safe,” Richards said. “In some cases, people leave their car windows open and burglars simply punch the garage door opener, opening the garage.”

In 2003, Spokane Police received reports of an average of nine commercial burglaries a week. So far this year, the average has been 13.

The weekly average of reported garage burglaries has climbed from 16 last year to 22 this year.

The overall trend of residential burglaries has gone down slightly over the past five years, but the city is still averaging about 40 a week compared with 38 last year, Cortright said.

The key to reducing risk is to make homes, cars or garages more difficult targets, Richards said. That starts with keeping windows and doors closed and locked.

“The average they are in a home is about five minutes. They are in and out,” Richards said. “People feel, ‘It’s not going to happen to me.’ I’ve had people who were gone from their home only 10 minutes.”

The more time burglars spend in a home, the more chance they have of getting caught. As a result, they rummage through certain areas in the home first, Richards said.

“It’s a crime of opportunity. They go to the bedroom for jewelry and the desk for checkbooks, bank statements or receipts,” she said. “Account numbers should be put away in an area that is unlikely for them to look.”

Homeowners should keep a log of serial numbers from every high-priced item they own. For about $10, they can purchase an etching tool to engrave tools and other items

Homeowners also should etch their driver’s license number on their tools. Engraving names or Social Security numbers are bad ideas because they can be used for identity theft, Richards said.

Most pawn shop owners won’t accept tools if they are etched, Cortright said. Plus, it helps police return those stolen items if they are recovered, Richards said. Often, officers find stolen items but they can’t do anything because homeowners hadn’t recorded their ownership.

“It’s a real sense of violation to have someone go through your house,” Richards said. “Yet there is nothing to go on if they didn’t write down serial numbers.”

Gun owners should use quality gun safes and homeowners with advertised security systems should prominently display warning signs or stickers, she said.

“Why spend time with an electronic system when the house next door may have an unlocked window?” Richards said. “Over 50 percent of the burglaries are in unlocked doors or windows.”

Police spokesman Dick Cottam said homeowners should be more responsible about how they secure their belongings.

“With the city budget cuts pending, fewer resources means less protection,” he said.