Recently while in a neighborhood taking pictures to update a crime prevention presentation on home security, we were amazed to see how many garage doors were open, and no one was around.
But in plain view were bikes, power tools, lawn equipment, golf clubs, etc. People were out of view, mowing their back yards or doing other chores, and not paying any attention to the security of their belongings.
All of these situations were giving someone the opportunity to enter a garage, steal items that are hard to trace, quickly turn them into cash, and then disappear without a witness.
Even more amazing was the fact that while standing on the curb taking pictures, people walking and driving past us never appeared to give a second thought to what we were doing. On one occasion a homeowner looked out a window and observed us standing across the street while we took pictures of his home. A short time later the man came out got into his car, backed out of his driveway and left, even nodding his head at us while driving past. Yes, he left his garage door wide open.
One couple out walking asked what we were doing. We told them we were taking pictures of open garage doors for a safety program. The woman said that everyone leaves their doors up and nothing ever happens.
The Tampa Police Department wants you to know that there are thefts from homes every year, because of garage doors left open. The woman who made the comment that nothing ever happens in their neighborhood has not been victimized yet.
Last year, Dateline NBC has shown several specials featuring a security consultant who has broken into houses while talking with neighbors, smashed car windows and then stolen the cars from busy parking lots, and spray-painted walls of buildings on busy streets. (These actions were carried out in conjunction with local law enforcement). Time and time again people would watch, but very few would ever react. For some reason people feel that it is none of their business or they are afraid to call law enforcement about something they are not sure about.
The interesting thing is law enforcement really wants to know. We know we can’t be everywhere all the time. Citizens need to assist and to watch out for their neighborhoods and their neighbors. We would rather check out a situation and find there was nothing to it than miss the opportunity to stop a crime and catch the criminal.
Ask any Officer, they will tell you that catching a thief stealing a $2,000 set of golf clubs is much more rewarding than writing a stolen property report on the clubs.
