City Officials Ask Residents To Help Stop Break-Ins

City officials are looking for help from residents to curb the rising number of break-ins in Westlake. According to police statistics, the number of burglaries in the city has risen from 19 in 2007 to 55 in 2010.

At a recent community meeting hosted by Ward 4 Councilman Michael O’Donnell, police officers shared tips on how to prevent burglaries and how to help police catch suspects.

“This really is a serious problem,” O’Donnell said. “It’s serious any time we have security issues, but we’re not unlike any other community. Every community has crime.”

Police are asking residents to watch out for suspicious behavior, especially on Friday and Saturday nights between 5-10:30 p.m., which is when the majority of break-ins have happened.

“If people in neighborhoods see something out of the ordinary and they call us, we have a pretty good chance of catching them,” said Cpt. Eric Schanz. “You’re not bugging us. You’d hate to say the next day that you should have called but didn’t.”

Schanz said watchful residents have already helped police catch burglary suspects. On Jan. 7, a Rustic Lane resident saw two men looking into windows and called police. Officers on detail in the area were able to arrest the two men.

“If you become another set of eyes and ears, you can help us catch the individuals doing this,” added Mayor Dennis Clough.

Schanz is also encouraging block watches to help communications between residents and the police department.

Residents of Dover Wood Estates already have a block club. Resident Marian Buzzard said burglars hit a home in their development during a Christmas block party last year. Many residents were unnerved by that and other recent burglaries, particularly a Jan. 22 incident in which a Forest Lane Drive resident found a man in her home.

“It’s unsettling,” Buzzard said. “Everyone lives in the back of their homes and no one knows what’s happening out front.”

Dover Wood Estates resident Anne Dreher said she’s glad she and her neighbors can watch out for each other and is impressed with police.

“The police are really responsive,” she said. “You call them and they’re happy to help.”

Here are some tips from police on how to make your house as unattractive as possible to burglars:

• Leave your porch lights on

• Have a sign for a security system in your yard, even if you don’t have an alarm

• Leave a light or TV or radio on inside when you aren't home

• When you go on vacation, only tell a few people that you’re leaving

• Also while you’re on vacation, take advantage of the city’s vacationhouse check program. Police will pay extra attention to your home and even walk around and check doors to make sure everything is secure.
• Install lights with motion detectors
• Don't leave your garage opener in your car
• Remind children to lock the doors
• Know your neighbors and their addresses in case you have to report an incident
• Write down the serial number on expensive things like cell phones, snow blowers or cameras. This will allow police to identify stolen items.