Residential Burglaries Increase 157% From 2012

Last night at the Victory Heights Community Council meeting, Community Police Team Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnstone said residential burglaries for precinct Lincoln 2 (which also includes Lake City, see this PDF map from the city, we’re in L2) went from 14 for the first 50 days in 2012 to 36 for the year to date in 2013. Breaking it down further, she said 21 residential burglaries were within the limits of Victory Heights this year so far.
Read the complete minutes of the February 2013 meeting.
Terrie was accompanied by Officer Kipp Strong of the Seattle Police Department and is available to the public for free home security surveys, inquiries about 911 follow up calls, and dealing with chronic crime. She can be reached at 206-684-7711 or terrie.johnston@seattle.gov . As part of her survey, she advises keeping heavy objects (like lawn ornaments) away from sliding glass doors or large windows where they could be used to break-in. Also, most burglaries occur during the daylight hours between 9 AM and 3 PM when strangers can blend in more easily with delivery and maintenance people in a neighborhood without arousing suspicion.
Burglars like unoccupied houses, so if someone knocks on your door, answer it without opening it, just to let whoever it is know someone is home. Don’t ignore knocking or doorbell rings. And Officer Strong said, “I’d rather be bothered by a suspicious magazine salesman call than having to dust for fingerprints.” He added, “We need your eyes” and that we know our neighbors and what looks suspicious.
And as many people now use cellphones exclusively, it’s important you always know your location if you need to call 911. Unlike a landline, cells don’t automatically display an address for the operator when you call 911. In King County, there is a service called Smart911 where you can register your cell number, so if you do call, information will be available to first-responders.
Other speakers at Tuesday’s meeting included Seattle Department of Transportation representative Art Brochet about the city’s upcoming paving project on NE 125th Street, a summary of last’s month Thornton Creek Alliance meeting about E. coli pollution in the creek, and a Treasurer’s report.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 19th, 7 PM at the Preschool in Victory Heights Park. Speakers will include Sound Transit on the Northgate Link Light Rail station going in at Northgate.
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