I was watching the news the other night and they highlighted a story that local law enforcement agencies feel that has become problematic to our area. The story was about bands of traveling thieves or cross county thieves. Unlike the Gypsies, this group or groups that were discussed in the news piece do not have ties to one another. They are just packs of individuals traveling from county to county executing residential burglaries and auto burglaries.
In the past three months, PGA National has had six (6) residential burglaries. This was alarming to me, but after watching the news segment, it shed some light on why we might have experienced the unconventional burglaries. Unconventional in the sense that these types of burglaries were not common to PGA National. In each burglary incident, forced entry was used as means of entering the home. The front door was either smashed in or pried open by the perpetrator(s). Another key factor that each of these burglary incidents shared was that there was no home alarm system set.
The fact that the front doors were smashed in or pried open are evidence that times have changed and that change is literally at our doorstep. As residents, you must be vigilant and ensure that your property is secured at all times. If you do not have a home alarm system, please consider investing in one. For those that have home alarm systems, I cannot emphasize how vital it is that you set your alarm prior to leaving your residence. You may also want to reevaluate and eliminate the number of individuals that have access to your home. Glass break sensors and cameras can also be a great asset in protecting your property and preventing crime.
Together with your assistance, we can put our best foot forward in combating criminal activity plaguing our community. This can only be achieved with everyone’s cooperation.
Whenever you leave your home – no matter for how long – always lock your doors and set your alarm. Never hesitate to call security. The smallest piece of information may be the biggest part of the solution.