Cops: We need your eyes and ears

On September 13, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department sent five officers to an Imperial Point Neighborhood association meeting to discuss the ongoing crime problems in the neighborhood. From January to July of this year there have been 29 residential burglaries and 27 vehicular burglaries, which represents a 188% increase in crime over the same period in 2002.




The vast majority of the residential break-ins occur during the day. According to detective Orlando Almanzar all robberies were conducted when the home owner was not there. The criminals operate in small groups of two or more individuals, said Almanzar. Their typical MO is to send one person to the front, who will knock on the door to see if anyone is home. If there is no answer, the other criminals will circle to the rear of the residence to find some way in.

Almanzar believes there are two or three of these groups concurrently operating in Imperial Point. Different groups steal different items from the residences: one group favors small electronics such as laptops, computers, and blue ray disk players; another targets "pocketable" items like jewelry; some even ransack the home looking for hidden safes.

Captain Ralph Nelson noted that the burglaries are “a serious issue” for the police department and that break-ins have increased in frequency over the past few weeks. The best way to curb this type of crime, said Nelson, is for residents to become more pro-active. “What is going to help most is your heightened alertness.”

To a shocked audience, He revealed that the police circulated 35 unmarked cars throughout the neighborhood on September 11 in an effort to catch some of the groups operating in Imperial Point. “While we didn't catch any criminals that day.” said Nelson, “we also didn't receive a single phone call from your neighborhood about suspicious vehicles roaming the streets.”

He said the few residents that do call in suspicious behavior are almost always apologetic about bothering the officers with their complaints. “We need your eyes out in the streets to determine what is suspicious and what isn't.” said Nelson. He encouraged residents to call in anything even remotely suspicious to the non emergency number at 954-828-5700.

Nelson further advised residents to contact their neighbors and to make lists of vehicles and the times those vehicles should be parked near the neighbor's residence. If a resident ever sees a vehicle that doesn't belong, call the emergency number. “We need leads” added officer Chris Croteau. “We don't have any local intel. It's difficult for us to determine what landscaper is supposed to be in front of what house.”

Nelson further indicated that vehicular burglaries could be significantly reduced if residents would not leave laptops, gps devices and cell phones in plain view in parked cars outside their homes. These are irresistible targets for thieves, and Nelson encourages people to bring those items inside or to hide them before parking the vehicle.

The officers offer other practical advice for protecting your home and property:

• Lock all doors and set your alarm before leaving

• Make sure your neighbors know what vehicles should be in front of your house and when

• Report ANY suspicious noise or active coming from the rear of your neighbor' house during the day

• Hurricane windows are not burglar proof

• A bar placed in the track of sliding glass doors is the best method for securing the door

• Write down the serial numbers for all your electronics

• Get Lojack for Laptops (http://www.absolute.com/products/lojack)