Police Department

Property Crime Prevention

Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager, 509.625.5868

Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 3:10 p.m.

Property crimes drop when residents work with SPD and take proactive measures

Spokane Police recently put a dent in burglaries and vehicle prowling in one North Spokane neighborhood by reminding homeowners/renters to close their garage doors and not to leave bikes, lawn equipment, and other items out on their lawns.

The Westgate neighborhood near Nine Mile saw an uptick in residential burglaries with 16 reported in the last few weeks. Most all of them happened when garage doors were left open or cars in driveways were unlocked with garage door openers easily accessible. The subjects went through cars taking credit cards and other valuables as well as taking valuable items from garages.

SPD patrol officers canvassed the area noting open garage doors at night and during the day. Neighborhood Resource Officer Keith Cler then visited the neighborhood contacting 42 people to remind them to close garage doors even if they are working in the back of the house or if they step inside for just a few minutes. There were no residential burglaries during the week following Officer Cler’s visit.

Often people have a false sense of security around their homes, especially if they live in an area of Spokane that traditionally doesn’t see much crime.

“Spokane has changed and people who never had to lock their doors are finding they need to now. It’s unfortunate but it’s a reality of the time we are in” says Officer Cler.

SPD encourages you to take some simple steps to avoid becoming a victim such as closing garages, locking doors, and being aware of your surroundings and of others in the area. It’s particularly important this time of year when people are outside working or playing with doors and windows open. Many residential burglaries happen in broad daylight.  You can assist SPD in making your neighborhood safer by reporting property crimes to crime check  at 456-2233. That allows police to identify a problem and deploy resources as needed. It’s also important to maintain a copy of the serial numbers for all electronics, bicycles, etc. This allows investigators to potentially track down your property in the event it is stolen.

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