Burglaries on the rise?

BY ED FELIEN

A rash of burglaries in the Page and Diamond Lake neighborhoods set residents’ nerves on edge. The Third Precinct sent out a Police Advisory notice that there had been a series of thefts and burglaries on Park Avenue between 54th Street and 56th Street between 11 p.m. and 10:40 a.m. Thursday, May 7, and there had been a house burglary on June 3 on the 5200 block of Park.

Are we experiencing a major crime wave?

Hardly.

According to the FBI crime statistics for South Minneapolis, Diamond Lake had no burglaries in May, but it had 18 burglaries from January to May. Page had one burglary in May, and six from January to May. Field had one in May and 15 since January. Regina had one in May and 12 since January. Page had one in May and six leading up to May. Northrup had three in May and 11 since January.

Morris Park had one in May and 10 leading up to May. Minnehaha had one in May and six prior. Keewaydin had two in May and 15 prior. Ericsson had three in May and nine prior. The total for those 10 neighborhoods is 11 burglaries in May and 104 for the four months leading up to May. That’s an average of 26 burglaries a month for the Nokomis Community for the first four months of 2012.

Eleven burglaries in May are less than half that average. If anything, the statistics suggest a decline in burglaries.

Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity. You can prevent most burglaries by not providing the opportunity. Lock your windows. Leave a light on. Put up a fence. Keep an eye out for your neighbors. Report suspicious activity to 911.
Relax and enjoy the summer, but be aware and take care!