Dakota County Sheriff Urges Caution As Spring Arrives

The arrival of Spring means not only warmer weather and pretty flora and fauna but also increased criminal activity, according to a statement released today from Dakota County Sheriff Dave Bellows.

Bellows urged county residents to keep their proverbial eyes peeled as Spring arrives because burglaries and related criminal activity have traditionally increased during the season.   

"Sixty percent of the burglaries reported in 2011 occurred in southern Dakota County between May and August," Bellows's statement read.

A few tips from the sheriff to avoid becoming a victim this year: 

• Lock all doors and windows before leaving your home and prior to going to bed. Even when leaving for a short time, it is important to secure your home.

• Leave lights on when you are gone or have them on automatic timers for the evening, both on the interior and exterior of the home.

• Always make sure your garage door is closed when leaving the house.

• Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors of your home. Sliding glass doors are more vulnerable, but buying special locks and using door stops provide good security.

• If you leave your car out at night, make sure all the doors are locked and remove any visible  money or other items that would entice a thief.  Remove any personal information from your car.  

When leaving for an extended period of time, take these precautions too:

• Let your neighbors know you will be gone and let them know if you have people checking on the  home while your away.  Ask them to report any suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement. Neighbors provide some of the best protection when they look out for each other.

• Make preparations to ensure your mail and newspaper will not be delivered while you're away or have someone pick it up every day.

• Make arrangements for your lawn to be cut on regular intervals.