Salt Lake Police investigate 27 burglaries in 20 days, make arrest
Mar 22, 2018, 5:54 PM | Updated: 8:25 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake City Police are urging neighbors to keep an eye out for suspicious activity after a rash of home burglaries this month.
27 burglaries in 20 days prompted police to put out a bulletin alerting neighbors to be watchful in the Liberty Wells and Sugarhouse neighborhoods.
“The key to this is the communication between the police department and the neighborhoods,” said Detective Keith Horrocks with the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Police arrested a burglary suspect in the Liberty Wells neighborhood Thursday afternoon. However, they’re not sure whether that suspect is tied to the spike in burglaries so they want everyone to remain vigilant.
“One of our neighbors actually got burglarized just two days ago,” said Cindy Yee, who has lived in the area 20 years. “Several houses in this neighborhood have been burglarized in the past week, or two.”
Yee saw the police bulletin on the Liberty Park Facebook page. Others saw it on the NextDoor app.
“Watch out for each other,” said the detective, who urges vigilance in all neighborhoods.
Nearly all of the burglaries were committed on weekdays between 7 AM and 6 PM, at homes and apartments.
“When people are gone to work,” said Horrocks. “Either breaking a window, or kicking in the back door.”
Typically the thief or thieves have entered the back of the house, stealing whatever valuables they can get their hands on.
Yee is optimistic the police will catch the burglars connected to these crimes.
“I’ve seen quite a large police presence driving around in the neighborhood,” she said. “We’re making sure we have our alarm system on and we have a dog. We’re making sure that we’re home more during the day.”
Police also recommend locking all cars and vehicles, and keeping valuables out of sight.
They also want residents in the area to check their properties, and check their outbuildings and garages and report to police anything missing that hasn’t already been reported.
“If you see something, communicate with your neighbors, and call police and let us know,” said the detective.
