A recent increase in burglaries around the Auburn area has people looking for ways to keep secure from burglars.
Just last week, Webster Road was the location of four burglaries, and the number of burglaries in the area is growing.
"We've seen a slight increase in the number of burglaries here recently," said Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Department.
However, Stofer said there are ways to keep safe and work to prevent burglaries.
One of the best ways to keep burglars at bay, according to Stofer, is also the easiest: lock all windows and doors when leaving.
"Many times these burglars, these thieves, they take the path of least resistance," Stofer said. "It's a crime of opportunity, and often times they will enter unlocked doors and windows. So, number one, easiest thing to do is make sure your residence is secured any time you leave."
Stofer said even if you leave for a few minutes to run to the grocery store, or even to the mailbox, make sure all doors and windows are locked.
Another tip Stofer suggested was to make sure your residence looks lived-in when going out.
Leaving on a television when out, asking a neighbor to check in when out of town, leaving a light on and, if possible, leaving a car in the driveway at all times are some ways to make your residence look occupied.
"You want to give the appearance that someone is inside because thieves and burglars are more apt to break into a place that they don't believe there is anyone there," Stofer said.
Stofer also said if anyone sees suspicious activity around the area, they should call the Police Department and let them know.
"Often a report comes in late, and by the time we get a patrol officer into the area, the bad guy has already gotten out of the area," Stofer said.
Stofer said to call 911 if the suspicious activity is happening, but to call the Auburn Public Safety Department, 334-501-3100, to report suspicious activity that you saw earlier.
"If it's nothing, it's nothing," Stofer said. "It doesn't take any time for us to follow up and check that, but we don't want to miss something that we could have perhaps prevented had we been able to get on it right away. Please be a 'nosy neighbor,' if you will."
Keeping record of all valuable possessions by writing down serial numbers will help if anything does get stolen, Stofer said, because the police can track the products through the number.
"If we do recover that property down the road, we would want to know how to get it back to its rightful owner," Stofer said. "If you become a victim, you can give us those numbers and we can load those numbers into a national database, and if that laptop comes up in California, we can trace it back."
Stofer also suggested taking valuable items that are small enough for travel with you when you go out of town, because those items will probably be safer with you.
Thieves typically go for things they can turn on the street easily, Stofer said. But, he thinks if citizens are aware of their surroundings, report suspicious activity and take a role in preventing burglaries, the numbers will decrease.
"If we have one, that's one too many for us," Stofer said. "Citizens just taking a few of these steps will go a long way in helping us get a handle on burglaries."
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