The Garden City Telegram
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From slick roads to smooth criminals, play it safe over holidays
Published 11/24/2009 in Local News
By RACHAEL GRAY
During the holiday season, when most have food, shopping, family and travel on the brain, local law enforcement officials have something else in mind: safety.
Burglaries and robberies may increase this time of year because of travel and holiday shopping, law enforcement officials say. And more cars on the road can mean more accidents, especially with the added element of inclement weather.
Law enforcement officials have advice for keeping safe during the season.
Burglars will look at the easiest targets, Finney County Sheriff Kevin Bascue said.
Bascue recommends people keep lights on in the front and back of properties to deter burglars from targeting the home. If lights are kept on, burglars will be less likely to target the residence for fear of being seen, he said.
He suggests trimming shrubs and trees from around the home, both of which burglars can use to hide.
"A burglar wants to take 60 seconds to break in, that's the national average," he said.
If a burglar has to take more time, this may keep them from targeting the residence, he said.
Bascue said to be sure to secure all property because many burglaries around the city and county happen when cars, homes and garages are left unlocked.
Concerned residents can contact the police department or sheriff's office to request a home watch, during which officers or deputies will monitor a vacant home, Bascue said.
Sgt. Michael Reagle of the Garden City Police Department had similar advice.
He said when leaving town to set lights on timers and pick up mail and newspapers that can accumulate outside the home.
"Don't advertise that you're gone," he said. "Make it look like you're still home."
Burglaries around town tend to spike during the holiday travel season, Reagle said.
On average, the police department records 50 to 55 burglaries per month, but the number can jump to 65 or 70 burglaries per month during the holiday season, he said.
Reagle advised to keep everything locked up, including windows and doors. If a property has a sliding glass door, be sure to put a bar at the bottom to secure it, he said.
Reagle also suggested unhooking the garage door opener, locking the garage and securing all exterior doors with dead bolts.
He also suggested to not mention on social Web sites any plans to travel during the holiday season. He said not to post it on Facebook, Myspace or other sites because many people have access to that information.
Anyone interested in a home watch should contact the GCPD at 272-1300 or sheriff's office at 272-3700.
To keep the highways safe, the Kansas Highway Patrol and law enforcement agencies are participating in the Kansas Thanksgiving Enforcement Campaign through Sunday. The Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) is funded by the Kansas Department of Transportation to minimize traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
The patrol and other agencies will focus on impaired drivers, child passenger safety laws and seat belt use among travelers of all ages.
Because of the STEP campaign funding, there will be more law enforcement officers on Kansas' streets and highways during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday period when travel increases in Kansas and across the nation. During the 2008 Thanksgiving reporting period, there were 746 collisions resulting in 208 injuries and four deaths. Of those crashes, 62 were alcohol related, resulting in 46 injuries and three deaths.
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