Crime Report: Sept. 7-13, 2012
Residential Burglary. On September 11, a residential burglary occurred in the 200 block of Beech Street. The front door was forced open, and property was taken from the residence.
Automobile Theft. Between September 3 and 4, the theft of a motor vehicle occurred in the 2900 block of Shook Hill Circle. The keys were in the vehicle, and the vehicle was unlocked. The vehicle was recovered in another city. A lead in the case was developed by the Patrol Division and is currently under investigation by CID.
Criminal Mischief. On September 8, a resident’s mailbox was damaged. This type of offense tends to increase when the school year begins.
Unlawful Breaking/Entering of a Vehicle. On September 12 or 13, a UBEV case occurred on Honeysuckle Lane. The victim’s purse was taken from the vehicle.
Current Trends/Tips for Prevention
Starting in mid-September, Michael Herren, commander of the Mountain Brook Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, began writing the crime updates. He offers tips for crime prevention based in response to problems that the department is currently facing.
- I must stress the importance of locking the doors to your residence. Investigators have interviewed numerous defendants who have told us they just walked through the unlocked door.
- Monitor your personal bank accounts and credit card accounts for fraudulent activity. Should you suspect any fraud, notify the bank or credit card company, and then contact the police department and complete a report. It is critical that the investigation begin immediately so that any evidence can be recovered.
- When you have some type of work completed in your residence, limit access to your personal property. Verify references provided by the company or individual. Conduct an inventory of your property after the work has been completed. This will assist the investigator by limiting suspects.