SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE
By Carolyn Neuhausen
As of two weeks ago, according to Portland Police Bureau statistics, home and car burglary rates were up 23 percent in North Portland, compared with the same time period last year.
Sergeant Jeff Morris of the North Precinct said that burglaries are scattered evenly through the different neighborhoods of North Portland. This has caused some difficulty as the police officers are spread more thinly in attempts to handle the recent rash of crime.
Of the things stolen from cars, GPS systems, stereos, laptops and wallets are the most popular. Catalytic converters are also common items stolen from cars.
Havilah Ferschweiler, a City Crime Prevention Coordinator based in North Portland, advises that prevention is the best way to combat this type of crime. She advises that residents close car windows and lock their cars, even if the car is sitting in the driveway.
Most of these crimes are crimes of opportunity; a car thief is looking to break into a car with something in it. Ferschweiler suggests that all things be removed from a car when it's parked. Sometimes car owners will leave something they believe has no value, like an old backpack; a thief, however, might chance breaking into the car, just to see what's in the bag. "Minimize the opportunity for your car to be burglarized," Ferschweiler said.
Another way to prevent crime is for neighbors to know each other. If someone isn't recognized and looks out of place or acts suspicious, this might indicate that a crime is about to take place. Sgt. Doug Gunderson and Lt. Jeff Miller, also of the North Precinct, advise residents to report any suspicious activity. Depending on the level of anxiety the situation provokes, residents can call the non-emergency number 503-823-3333 or 9-1-1.
Most home burglaries occur during the day when people are out working. Gunderson explained that a burglar will go to a house and knock on the door to see if anyone's home. If the resident is home, the burglar has a script to follow, something that will make them sound legitimate. However, if the house looks empty for the day, the burglar will try to break into a side window or back door.
Unlike home burglaries, car thefts are usually done at night when people are home from the working day.
Ferschweiler and the police members made a presentation at the Portland Safety Action Committee meeting Tuesday night, advocating prevention and reaching out to neighbors.
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