CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE
January 30, 2024
Over the past several months the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office has taken reports of burglaries to unoccupied residences where the persons living there were either out of town for the holidays or for the winter season. Through our investigations it appears that the suspects are surveilling neighborhoods where it is apparent that nobody is home due to factors such as recent snow and no snow removal, no lighting in the house and so on. It appears that the suspects may have focused on certain areas however it is important for all residents to be aware and take measures to add a level of protection to their homes.
There are certain things that all residents can do to help prevent being targeted from intruders and trespassers. Some things to consider are make yourself known to your neighbors and after you develop that relationship make them aware of travel plans and ask that they keep an eye on your property. One of the best crime prevention and crime solving tools is to have extra eyes on an area. Always have lights on timers that illuminate your residence both inside and outside. Interior lighting demonstrates that residents are inside and active. This should include motion activated lights for the exterior of the property and outbuildings. If it is winter time consider contacting a snow removal company and make arrangements to have your driveway plowed and your sidewalks shoveled. Keep windows and doorways and even your overall property trimmed from excess brush and trees. Good visibility of a property is very important to allow your friends and neighbors the ability to assess if something is out of place or if there are unwanted visitors. Keep a good inventory of your valuables, including photos and serial numbers. If you are going to be gone and have a gun safe lock up both valuables and keys to vehicles in that safe. There are numerous companies that sell inexpensive and easy to operate security cameras. These systems not only notify you immediately if someone has entered your property or residence, they also record, both audio and visual, activity for extended periods of time. There may be more things our residents can do to protect themselves dependent on their location and other services available to them in that specific area.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate these burglaries and will notify our residents if there are any updates.
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