What We Know: A car has been gone thru and a scooter stolen from the backyard of a resident’s home in the 1000 block of West Mount Vernon Street here in Springfield. The home owner has the thief on video and it has been reported to police. There is talk among the neighbors of seeing someone going down the back alley trying car doors.
What It Means: This is not an isolated incident. Often one to several thieves will canvass an entire neighborhood in the course of a single night. Their activities ranging from the area of the downtown square into surrounding neighborhoods such as the West Central and Grant Beach areas and further. This is an ongoing problem.
What’s At Stake: If you are a Springfield City resident you must consider your home and property at risk to break-in and theft.
What Remains Unclear: So who’s responsible for these thefts? Is this a “homeless” issue? Is it a drug-related issue? Gangs? Or, is it just teenage kids out looking to see what they can get for free? The answer is a combination of all of these. And it’s not just happening in the richer neighborhoods. More often than not, these thefts are occurring in the low-to-middle class neighborhoods to people who can least afford to have their things stolen.
The Answer: Only a few suggestions can be made to help slow the thieves.
- Don’t keep anything valuable in your car or truck and keep your vehicle locked up.
- Get a dog.
- Get some “motion-sensing” lights or keep the yard lit all night.
- Install a home security system if possible.
- Secure your yard and your garage or out-building.
- Install a fence.
Conclusion: Today’s thieves don’t seem to be scared of police and the law.
Perhaps it’s time they become very afraid of the owner.
(photo courtesy of Envato Images)