Simple precautions deter burglaries

Detective Crystal Kent, left, and and Lt. Jason Barnes of the Fulton Police Department gave local business owners tips about preventing burglaries. Step one: Lock up.
Detective Crystal Kent, left, and and Lt. Jason Barnes of the Fulton Police Department gave local business owners tips about preventing burglaries. Step one: Lock up.

The Fulton Police Department wants local business owners to think like criminals.

"It sounds stupid, but that's what we do every time we get a case," Detective Crystal Kent said. "Take five minutes and think about how you'd burglarize your store. You'll see new little things every time."

Kent and Lt. Jason Barnes taught a class Thursday at the Callaway Chamber of Commerce about burglary prevention. Some of the most effective measures are the most basic, they said.

Kent added the Fulton Police Department will send officers to evaluate a building's security practices upon request.

Make them work

"You'd be amazed by how many times we go out to someplace and ask if the door was locked, and the owner will hang their head and say, 'No,'" Kent said. "A lot of crimes are crimes of opportunity - they're not planning it."

In many cases, a person will impulsively open an unlocked door without considering potential repercussions. Barnes advised taking care to actually lock doors - including car doors - and windows.

"If someone's going to break into your place, make them really break in," he said. "They might cut themself on glass and leave DNA."

Make the search for valuables difficult by avoiding leaving money in plain sight, concealing safes, and never putting away large sums of money in front of customers.

"We worked a burglary not long ago at a business where they'd take money from customers and put it in a cash drawer right in front of them - and it was unsecured," Barnes said.

Regularly changing locks and safe pass-codes - especially after staffing changes - helps as well. Employees may successfully copy keys even if they're labeled "do not copy."

Another suggestion: Vary your routine.

"If you make a drop at the bank at 1 p.m. everyday, and someone's watching, you'll become a prime target," Kent said.

Barnes said he and other officers even vary the route they drive to work, in hopes of avoiding being easily ambushed by someone with a grudge.

One audience member, John Speck, could attest to the importance of changing routines. His friend used to manage a Sonic and would drive to the bank at the same time each night - until he got robbed.

Kent said business owners and employees may call the police department at 573-592-3100 to request an escort to the bank, or for an officer to watch the bank's entrance. She advised giving 30 minutes of notice to ensure an officer is available.

"You might not see us, but we'll be there," Kent said.

But don't skip deposits, either.

"Please, please, please do not leave large amounts of money in your business," Kent added.

Lighting around entrances and parking lots is also key. In addition to deterring lurking thieves, light ensures security cameras capture clear images.

"Cameras, cameras, cameras," Police Chief Steve Myers said. "I can't tell you how many cases we've solved in town because of cameras."

In cases when there are no eyewitnesses and physical evidence, security camera footage "is golden," Barnes said. Detectives often share suspects' images with law enforcement in neighboring counties to increase the odds of making an identification.

He advised checking the areas your security cameras cover and chatting with neighbors about potentially sharing cameras.

Keep out

If a burglary does occur - or if something looks out of the ordinary, such as a door standing open or rearranged merchandise - Kent's advice is to get out. Don't touch anything, leave the building and call the police. Lingering and trying to tidy up may ruin the crime scene.

The police can clear the building to make sure it's free of intruders. Then, they'll document the scene.

"I take at least 100 pictures at each crime scene," she said.

Depending on various circumstances, the police may request DNA swabs from all employees. That helps screen out their DNA and find genetic material an intruder may have left behind, Barnes explained. Those swabs are destroyed after the investigation's conclusion, he added.

Burglary investigations frequently take a while to complete, except in the rare but welcome circumstances when the criminal leaves a wallet behind or something like that, Kent said.

"I've had people call me a week after making a report and ask why I haven't made an arrest yet," she said. "It's because I'm still interviewing your 500 employees."

Patience and cooperation are key.

Even in circumstances where it's not clear whether a burglary has occurred, Kent urged the audience not to hesitate to call the police.

"We'd rather have you make a report and it be nothing than not call and have it be something," she said.