Newark is experiencing a rise in home burglaries.
Within a year, the number of residential burglaries increased by 39 cases, according to statistics from the
In 2010, there were 198 residential burglaries compared to 159 incidents in 2009, an increase of nearly 25 percent.
In March, there were 20 breaking and entering cases. Today, two men were arrested on suspicion of burglary.
Commander Robert Douglas of the Newark Police Department said burglaries are not restricted to any particular area within Newark — it’s happening everywhere.
“Our officers are aware of the trends, and they are focusing on residential neighborhoods, looking for suspicious people,” he said.
The rise of burglaries may be associated with the decline of the economy, Douglas said. The City of Newark has seen to residents.
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Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity where thieves who try to enter homes are commonly “door kickers,” he said.
Douglas explained that burglars often target a home that looks empty or less secure than homes around it. They knock on the front door and wait for a response.
The most sought items in breaking and entering cases are smaller valuables that burglars can easily conceal when fleeing a crime scene, Douglas said. These include cash, jewelry and laptops.
That was the case for one victim whose home in Newark's Lakeshore Park neighborhood was hit by burglars.
“It seemed like it happened very quick because it was during the day,” said the victim, who asked to be anonymous for safety reasons.
He added, “They pulled out all of the drawers and it seemed like they were looking for small stuff.”
Burglars took off with cameras, an MP3 player and documents, he said. Stereos, TVs and laptops were left behind.
Douglas recommended that residents make their houses "a deterrent to burglars" by installing alarm systems and high-quality locks such as deadbolts. Don't leave a garage door remote inside a car that is parked outside, he added.
Taking extra precautions did not hinder burglars from trying again at the Lakeshore Park home.
In early April, the home was targeted again, despite signs indicating it had an alarm system. Burglars entered the home through a side garage door but didn't get far into the house because the alarm was activated, the burglary victim said.
“I was kind of blown away that they had the nerve to break in,”said.
Douglas also recommended getting window locks and having adequate lights in the house.
A little common sense can make a big difference, he added. Avoid answering machine messages detailing an upcoming trip or leaving online posts that mention you’re on vacation.
The Newark Police Department encourages residents to report any suspicious activity or persons. Residents should call dispatch at 510-578-4237 for any situations that are not life-threatening.
