Neighborhood Break-Ins and Burglaries

Capt. Tonola Blakes of the Burbank Substation of the Sheriff's Office (which is responsible for our area) came with other representatives to the Board Meeting last night to discuss the recent rash of break-ins and burglaries in our neighborhood.

Here are some things you can do to keep your home (and your neighbors homes) safe:

1.  Be on the lookout for strangers or any suspicious person, particularly if they are walking or driving slowly through the neighborhood.  The slow speed allows them to check out potential targets, noting who is at home and who isn't.  Call the Sheriff's Office substation right away with as much identifying information as you can gather (including license plate number), and they will check it out.  If the person is innocent, no harm done.    Burbank Substation phone number is 389-5511.

2.  The Sheriff's Office is aware of a couple of groups operating in EBR.  Be on the lookout for a white older model 4-door Chevy Lumina or Malibu, usually occupied by 3 black males, and a new black Saturn VUE, usually occupied by 3 black males.  

3.  An unkempt neighborhood appearance will draw criminals.  Pick up your newspaper in the morning (and your neighbor's if you know he's not home); keep your yards mowed; call Entergy to replace street lights that are out; call the City Parish when a servitude needs to be cut; etc.

Also, if you purchase new electronics (such as a large-screen TV), don't leave the box out where everybody can see what you just bought.   Cut or tear it into smaller pieces and put them into your recycle bin.  

4.  Don't leave things in your carport that thieves may want to steal - bicycles, work equipment, tools, etc.

5.  Don't leave anything of value in your car; don't leave anything that LOOKS like it might have value in your car; and lock your cars.  There are groups operating that go through an area just trying car handles - no break-ins, they just take whatever they want from vehicles they find unlocked. 

6.  At night, leave your outside lights on so that Sheriff's Deputies on patrol can see if there is someone wandering around your home.  

7.  Record serial numbers or take photos of items of value.  If stolen and then recovered, the police will need some sort of proof that an item is yours before they are allowed to return it to you.  

8.   "Beware of Dog" signs can work, even if you don't have a dog!  Burglars don't want to mess with dogs.

9.  Fake security signs and/or fake security cameras are available at reasonable prices if you can't afford the real thing.  

10.  Those of us who are home during the day - keep an eye out on your neighbor's homes and report suspicious activity.   If you see a vehicle pull into their driveway and park and you know it's not one of theirs - call your neighbor at work to see if they're expecting visitors, and/or just call the Sheriff's Office which will check things out.  If the person is supposed to be there, no harm done!  

11.  Lastly, encourage as many of your neighbors as possible to join the website and get signed up to get e-mails.    Send an e-mail to the website e-mail address when you know of attempted break-ins in the area (AFTER you call the Sheriff's Office, of course!), iejtonline@cox.net, and we can use our e-mail system to notify our neighbors to be on the lookout.  

The Sheriff's Office has increased patrols in our area, including patrol cars and detectives in plain cars.