The number of burglaries reported during spring break was relatively consistent with totals for other weeks of the year, Columbia Police Department spokeswoman Latisha Stroer said.
This year, 16 burglaries were reported during break. An average week in the year has 11.5 burglaries, based on Stroer’s calculations. Fourteen of this year’s burglaries occurred in residential areas, and one was at a commercial location. An additional burglary occurred at an unattached shed or garage.
The recording period for these numbers was between March 26 and April 4.
CPD’s computers don’t designate student and non-student homes, but MU Police Department Capt. Scott Richardson said no burglaries were reported to his department during this time. Stroer said CPD checked to see if the burglaries were concentrated in one certain area of Columbia, and this wasn’t the case.
The overall numbers are one up from last spring break, Stroer said.
“This is a slight increase, but not a significant increase because of spring break,” she said. “I would say we have a higher number during winter break with this average.”
Seventy-three burglaries were reported over the month-long winter break, Stroer said. An average month sees about 46 burglaries. Last year, winter break saw 55 burglaries. However, as winter break is longer than spring break, this amounts to an average of 17 burglaries per week.
“This is a significant increase,” Stroer said. “It is a longer break, so burglaries can hit more houses and apartments that are unoccupied longer, and it is the Christmas season, so burglars are looking to pawn more items for cash or they need items for gifts.”
Stroer said CPD has distributed a burglary prevention news release the past few years before both breaks. Among the suggestions on this list are to leave exterior and internal lights on or to use a timer and to arrange for mail, newspapers and packages to be picked up or canceled.
“Give the residence the appearance that someone is home,” Stroer said.
The number of burglaries in 2010 was 552, Stroer said. This is down from 692 burglaries in 2009.
