BURGLARIES ON THE RISE IN OLYMPIA
Date: August 2, 2012
Released by:
· Laura Wohl, Public Information Officer
· 360.753.8214 – desk
· 360.951.8889 – mobile
Olympia Sees Increase in Residential Burglaries
Crime data from the Olympia Police Department shows that the residential burglary rate has climbed in 2012 and is currently 48% above the 2011 rate. The number of burglaries in the City took a sharp jump during the month of July, particularly in the Westside and Southeast areas. 63% of the burglaries have involved unsecured homes and garages. In several cases, items of value were visible from windows and the burglar simply opened a door or window to steal the items. In other cases, suspects have walked through neighborhoods checking homes for unlocked doors and windows. Upon finding an unsecured home, they enter and steal easy-to-carry items such as laptop computers and jewelry.
The Olympia Police Department is concentrating its efforts on solving these crimes and stopping the people responsible. The police department is asking for the public’s help:
· Secure your windows and doors. Thieves are opportunists who look for easy targets. If you feel you must leave windows open due to the warm weather, use a wooden dowel to limit the amount of distance the window can open.
· Be vigilant. Be aware of your own surroundings and of what’s happening in the neighborhood. If you are the victim of a break-in, call 911 immediately and let the police search your home and the surrounding area.
· Report suspicious activity quickly. If you observe suspicious people or activity in your neighborhood, call 911 and report this to police without delay.
Police and the public, working together, are a proven tool for reducing burglaries and catching burglars. Police are also tracing stolen property, increasing patrols in the affected areas, and using crime analysis to find the people responsible for this crime trend.
If you have information that might lead to the identification and apprehension of the persons responsible for these crimes, please contact the Olympia Police Department at
(360)753-8300 or Thurston County CrimeStoppers at (360)493-2222.
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