Columbia (WLTX) - Burglaries have increased 32% in Columbia since this time last year, and now city police are taking a different approach to combating them.
For the next two weeks, the department will send out emails with prevention tips via a service called Nixle.
It's a free program that sends texts and email alerts about crime in your neighborhood.
Some of the hardest hit areas in Columbia are the North and South regions of the city.
In just the last 90 days, there have been 144 break ins in the South region (Rosewood, Five Points, Devine) and 127 in the North region (North Main, Monticello, Farrow).
"We're in tough times. It's not a surprise to anyone that we're having this problem and we're trying to make folks aware" said Columbia Police Captain Thomas Dodson.
He says there have been 1,150 burglaries in the entire city of Columbia this year, compared to 869 last year.
"Attached to every 1,150 burglaries is a victim and we want to make sure we're aware of it and folks need to be aware and if they see something suspicious they need to call us," said Dodson.
Some tips offered through Nixle include making your home look occupied because burglars avoid occupied homes, form a neighborhood watch group, and don't allow your mail to build up in your mailbox, especially if you're away.
Rosewood resident Tamora Burnett has a fence around her house to keep her four dogs from running away. She says it adds protection from burglars.
She says she also keeps lights and televisions on when she's not home.
"I'm surprised at the burglaries in my neighborhood," Burnett said. "You see it quiet and nothing is going on and you think it's like that all the time and it's not."
Burnett admits she has seen more police in her neighborhood recently.
Besides burglaries, Columbia Police say rapes, individual strong armed robbery, and aggravated assaults have increased this year.
Homicides have remained the same with 10 in 2009 and 2008.
Commercial armed robbery, individual armed robbery, commercial strong armed robbery, carjacking, commercial burglary, auto break ins, larceny, and motor vehicle thefts are down this year.
If you're interested in signing up for the free Nixle program, log onto www.nixle.com.
11/4/2009 8:52:50 PM
