Though it may be a small town, Veneta is not immune to crime and recent incidents have driven this fact home.
On January 10th, a residence on Spare Street was burglarized while the owners were absent (an investigation is continuing and no arrests have yet been made) and on January 22nd, a suspicious car was seen traveling through neighborhoods off Bolton Hill and the driver was observed looking in backyards and apparently checking out houses as though casing them. Earlier this month, an 11-year-old boy was frightened as he was seemingly followed by a scruffy looking man as he walked to the West Lane Center after being let off the bus early following school at Willamette Leadership Academy. The youngster, upon reaching the center, went into Ray’s Food Place and had a pair of employees escort him to his mother’s car. It was determined by Lane County’s Sheriff’s deputies, who were notified, that the man in question was a local transient who spends time at the West Lane Center on an almost daily basis. The child’s fear, however, was understandable as was his mother’s as she thought her son had been endangered. On Facebook, there are reports from Veneta citizens who have had gas siphoned from their vehicle’s tanks and their gas caps stolen and an intruder milling about their property early in the morning in another incident. Others have also reported unwanted persons in their yards and broken car windows. These sorts of things can and do shake a person’s sense of security as their home is violated. It is also a source of frustration as so few of these crimes result in an arrest and when they do, the punishment is oftentimes not much more than the proverbial slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, those who have been victimized have to worry about the possibility of identity theft and fraud. So, what can one do to protect their belongings and avoid suffering a loss? The Lane County Sheriff’s Office has tips that they are more than happy to share in the hopes of preventing citizens from falling prey to criminals. Many of these tips are common sense, but they bear sharing, nonetheless. To prevent your vehicle from being broken into, the sheriff’s department suggests parking in well-lit areas away from large trees or shrubs where a thief can easily hide from view. For added protection, many retail parking areas have security cameras that can be parked by which can be an excellent deterrent to would be thieves. It is also good practice to lock your vehicle doors even when parked on your driveway and to not keep anything inside it no matter how inconsequential it may seem. What you may consider unimportant may prompt a break-in. Storing a spare key anywhere on the car is never a good idea and car alarms are excellent ways to discourage theft. If this is not possible, then it is wise to invest in a steering wheel locking device. As for protecting one’s home, the sheriff’s department suggests keeping shrubbery trimmed to decrease places for a criminal to hide and making use of good outdoor lighting such as motion sensor. Keeping ladders secured is also a good idea as they can be used to access upper levels of a two-floor home. Bikes should be locked or stored indoors, and doors should also be kept locked as well. There are things one can do inside the home to protect oneself such as keeping keys hidden and safes attached to walls. A log should be kept of serial numbers for electronics and the door between the kitchen and the garage should always be kept locked. Emergency numbers should be programmed into cell phones and phones should be kept near one’s bed for easy calling for help should assistance be needed. While away from home, it is wise to inform a trusted family member, friend or neighbor that you will be gone so they can keep an eye on your house. Timers to turn on lights, etc., to make it appear that someone is home are a good investment and it is also helpful to have someone put your garbage/recycling out on the appropriate day, so it appears the house is occupied and have someone gather your mail and newspaper delivery or have them temporarily stopped. For long absences, it is suggested that someone keep your lawn mowed as an unkempt lawn is a giveaway that nobody is home and never use fake hide-a-key rocks on your porch. Never post on social media that you are leaving as this is an announcement to the world that you will be gone. It is a disconcerting feeling to know somebody has violated the sanctity of your home or vehicle, but by employing good common sense and taking precautions that risk is reduced. Having a good security system installed is highly recommended and may help lead to identifying a thief should one decide to see what they can steal. It’s time to fight back intelligently against the would-be criminals and do what we can to make their thievery as difficult and unpleasant as possible.
1 Comment
White
2/22/2024 07:53:25 pm
Great article.
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