In the record heat wave that swept through western Washington, more residents were leaving doors and windows open during all hours of the day to ventilate their homes. This became the perfect attraction for prowlers looking to quickly and quietly take what they could.
The warmer weather created greater opportunities for thieves to burglarize unsuspecting local residences, even in broad daylight.
Though the 2008 Uniform Crime Report statistics showed a 3.9 percent decrease in the Bonney Lake area, Sgt. Tom Longtine of the Bonney Lake Police Department said hot summer days like ones in recent weeks are often accompanied by an increase in property theft. Items missing are usually small electrical devices like GPS systems and radios or loose change left in vehicles.
It’s all about accessibility, he explained; they are crimes of opportunity.
In most reported burglary cases, Longtine found that no forced entry was made. He said prowlers are more likely to target properties where rooms and vehicles are left unlocked. The rising temperatures are making personal belongings more susceptible to theft.
The same thing happened to Sumner residents, where at least three homes on the same street were burglarized in the last month. Victims said things that were taken were small like scanners and cables visibly left in unlocked cars.
One resident said the recent thefts have shaken his family’s feeling of security. They are now considering joining a neighborhood block watch to keep them and neighbors informed and protected from future crimes.
“It leaves folks more vulnerable,” Sumner Police Deputy Chief Brad Moericke said.
People to in smaller communities like Sumner are less likely to secure their property because they know the people in the area, he said. Moericke also urged residents to join neighborhood watch groups to ensure safety.
“People that live in the neighborhood are in the best position to notice when things are out of place.”
There were 254 reported burglaries in Sumner from 2007 to June 30 of this year, and 149 of those reported were residential thefts.
Sumner police noticed an increase in car prowls but again, nothing is being broken to gain entry.
Communications Director Carmen Palmer said it is not so much the economic downturn as it is availability that is leading to recent thefts.
“A large percentage of burglaries are crimes of opportunity,” she said. “Someone finds a garage door left open and unattended and decides to help themselves to a bike, gun, lawn mower, etc. The best thing citizens can do is to not create those opportunities for others and always close and secure doors, windows, etc. when not attended.”
Like Moericke, she suggests community members communicate often and report any crimes to their local police department.
