YUMA, AZ - Yuma
County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate a string of home burglaries
and vehicle break-ins in the Yuma Foothills area. Deputies tell KSWT News 13
thieves have broken into ten homes and 22 vehicles.
The
YCSO says the thieves who are burglarizing these homes and breaking into vehicles
are tough to catch, because some residents have left their homes and cars
unlocked making it easy for thieves to steal their belongings without leaving a
trace of evidence.
Yuma Foothills residents Marlene
and Otis Aubul say they are now taking security matters into their own hands to
keep burglars from targeting their home.
"[I'm] looking at possibly
getting a security device. They're pretty good deterrent," said Otis.
He and his wife are shocked
about the recent string of home break-ins in their once normally quiet
neighborhood. They say they've always left their car unlocked without a worry
but that's not the case anymore.
"We had left them unlocked
for the most part and we won't be leaving anything of any value in sight in the
car to make it a tempting target," said Otis.
In response to this latest
crime spree YCSO Deputy Roxanne Meyers tells KSWT News 13 deputies have also stepped-up
patrol throughout the Yuma Foothills area.
"The officers are going
through the neighborhoods more frequently; they're driving a little bit slower,
just making sure the neighborhood is safe and that there is nothing going on or
any suspicious activity taking place" said Meyers.
Deputy
Meyers says the message now is for residents to start locking their doors to
their cars and to their homes, including their garage doors.
"Let's just say the
intruder went to a vehicle with gloves on and open the vehicle and takes the
property out, closed the door quietly, we really don't have anything to go off
of," said Meyers. "Versus if the vehicle was locked and they attempted
to break in and they broke a window, it would definitely alert a dog in the
neighborhood, it would alert a neighbor."
The Abdul's plan to take
security measures one step further; they've now teamed up with their neighbors
to keep a watchful eye out for each other and for criminals.
Deputies have not made any
arrests in any of these home burglaries or car break-ins. In cases like these,
they say the key to helping catch criminals is for everyone to get
involved.
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