Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano County authorities logged five new burglary complaints Tuesday, bringing the total to 11 since reports started coming on Friday.
“They seem to be on the rise,” Sheriff’s Department Capt. Tom Tuma said.
Though the crimes are still under investigation, Tuma said, there is a likelihood the break-ins are related. Most were reported in the town of Wescott, but one was also reported Tuesday in the town of Washington.
“Chances are they’re tied together when you see a pattern develop like this,” Tuma said.
Though most of the burglaries have been to sheds and garages, Tuesday’s reports included a trailer broken into on a construction site on Woods Road.
Other break-ins Tuesday included two on Balsam Row Road and one on Balsam Lane.
A residence was also reported burglarized on County Road E in the town of Washington.
The string of burglary complaints started coming in Friday. The weekend break-ins were reported mostly to sheds and garages on Stark Road and Pine Court, but also to a mobile home on Pioneer Drive. An ice shack on the lake was also reported broken into.
An attempted burglary was also reported on Curt Black Road.
The incidents are all still under investigation.
Tuma said there were a number of steps property owners could take to deter burglars, including installing exterior lights and making sure homes, garages and sheds are properly secured.
“Every exterior door should have quality deadbolts,” he said.
Tuma said property owners should make their properties a harder target for thieves, helping ensure that, if they do get in, they will be more likely to leave evidence behind.
“In today’s world of DNA, if you force a burglar to break a window and crawl through jagged glass, that’s a good thing, because they’re going to leave DNA behind,” he said.
Also important, Tuma said, is knowing your neighbors and being alert to suspicious behavior.
Tuma said residents shouldn’t be shy about calling in a report of a suspicious person or vehicle.
“We’ll check it out,” he said.
AT A GLANCE
Sheriff Adam Bieber posted the following tips on Facebook in light of recent burglaries:
• Meet with your neighbors and talk about how you can make your neighborhood safe.
• Stay up past your normal bedtime to see what activity is occurring in your neighborhood.
• Activate or install motion lights on out buildings.
• Install cameras.
• Consider security companies that can help secure your building.
• Look over your buildings and property to see how you can secure windows and doors to make it difficult for burglars to enter.