How you can help Edmonds police thwart residential burglars
Editor’s note: We first posted this information in January, and are reposting it following Tuesday night’s shooting of a burglary suspect in Esperance.
The Edmonds Police Department is reminding citizens that they can play a key role in helping police catch suspects in residential burglaries.
Usually, a suspect will ring the door bell or knock on the front door and if they receive no answer they will go to a more secluded part of the house and force entry through a door or window. In addition to making your house look occupied, police advise that if someone knocks on your door, make sure that they know someone is home, whether you choose to answer the door or not.
If you do answer the door and the person does not appear to have a legitimate reason for being there, call 911, providing as much detail as you can about the subject and any vehicles that they may be associated with. The most effective tool the police have in thwarting home burglaries is the alert homeowner reporting suspicious persons or activities in their neighborhoods.
For more tips, see the Edmonds Police Department flier here.
There were, according to the Police, 39 residential buglaries in December. That is a lot. The crime prevention program was cut from the budget by the City Council. There is no crime analyst position because there is no funding.
Citizens can help the police but the police must also be given the tools to be proactive ( an analyst would be able to spot trends such as the current rash of burglaries).
One of the most enjoyble things about Edmonds is the feeling of safety. Our police are the best in the area. If one has to call them, they arrive quickly and are professional and polite. Residential burglaries are expensive and distressing. Not having a crime prevention program and a crimes analyst may be very costly for citizens as well.