Lock it up just to be safe

By Barry Porterfield
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat

September 14, 2008 02:34 pm

— It’s better to lock it up just to be safe. That’s the advice of Pauls Valley authorities still looking into a string of local burglaries this week — all from unlocked homes or vehicles.
In all, five vehicles and two homes were victimized, all within a two or three block area, during a mid-week spree.
This series of incidents should serve as a reminder to local residents to keep things locked up just to be sure, said PV Police Chief Dennis Madison.
“People just need to secure their houses and vehicles,” he said.
“They need to keep them locked up so they won’t be an easy target for thieves.”
One of Madison’s detectives, Derrick Jolley, confirmed all of the houses and vehicles hit by the thefts were indeed unlocked making them easily accessible to thieves.
“All of these burglaries happened in a small area, and there was no sign of forced entry for any of them,” Jolley said.
In one of the thefts someone entered an unlocked house in the 100 block of North Pear and got away with some electronics related items.
Items were stolen from two vehicles parked at the same house in the 200 block of Spruce.
A small amount of money was taken from a vehicle parked in the 600 block of North East.
Then came a home intrusion in the 700 block of North East.
There several items were taken as a resident slept inside. At least one item was also stolen from a vehicle at that same residence.
Adding to the spree was a vehicle break-in right next door, authorities said.
The neighbor’s vehicle is owned by a soldier who is away from home right now because of his service in the National Guard.
Reports show evidence clearly indicates someone had gotten into the vehicle, although it remains unknown for now if anything was taken.
In addition to locking things up, Madison stresses that residents can also be more cautious and watchful of the things happening in and around their neighborhoods.
“People need to be observant,” Madison said.
“If people see someone walking in their neighborhood in the middle of the night they need to contact us so we can check them out.”
The chief added that anyone with information about these burglaries should contact the regular police phone number or the local Crimestoppers program at 238-7776.
Crimestopper callers will remain anonymous and could earn a reward, he said.