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Break ins growing problem in county
Published Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Pike County Sheriff’s Department has been actively seeking suspects after multiple homes have been burglarized throughout the county.
And, Sheriff Russell Thomas said the department is looking for residents’ help.
“In recent weeks we’ve had multiple burglaries in residences in Pike County,” Thomas said.
The break ins span communities in Ansley, Shellhorn, Henderson, north of Meeksville, Shiloh, Tennill and south of Goshen.
Thomas said items taken range from firearms to flat screen televisions to computers and jewelry.
It is believed the burglaries are all connected and have even taken place outside of Pike County, as well.
“We’ve been in communication with Montgomery County, Crenshaw County, Troy Police Department, Houston County, Dale County and Coffee County,” Thomas said. “Some of these have experienced the same types of problems.”
While the incidents span several weeks, Thomas said some have taken place this week.
Two took place Monday in the Tennill and Shiloh communities and one Wednesday south of Goshen.
In all cases, the doors were pried open and similar items were stolen.
While a suspect has not been located, Thomas said he feels the department has begun to make headway.
“In our talks with Houston and Dale Counties, we feel we’ve gained information valuable toward detecting possible suspects,” Thomas said.
Many of the homes have been burglarized while owners were away, but not all have been unoccupied, Thomas said.
Thomas asks any resident in the county who sees something out of place or has someone knock on their door looking for directions or money to be cautious and call the police.
“Get a good vehicle description and tag number,” Thomas said.
“What little bit of information we get from people in the county could help. We’re asking people to be our eyes and ears.”
Thomas said burglary third degree is one of the lesser burglary charges, but this is a situation he is not taking lightly.
“It is as bad as I’ve seen it in my 25 years of law enforcement,” Thomas said. “There’s been several arrests made (in other incidents), but it just doesn’t stop.”
Thomas said he hopes the crime will receive higher punishment than it currently does in the future.
“If you impede on a person’s property, you should have a lengthier sentence. Someone told me last week, ‘I just don’t feel the same in my home anymore,’” Thomas said.
“It affects a family in so many ways. It affects an entire community.”
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Comments
Posted by DirtRoadDweller (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 4:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A good follow up question would have been - "how many new pistol permits has the Sheriff's office issued?". People are tired of ths crap. Personally, I will shoot anyone who threatens me or my family. The war isn't just going on overseas, it's right here in our town.
Posted by tisktisktisk (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If the repeat offenders were prosected to the fullest extent of the law then maybe some of this stupidity would stop. Why should it now when they only get a slap on the wrist and a chance to commit the crime again.
Posted by BeachGirl (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yiou are so right DirtRoadDweller. I feel the same way..if they have the nerve to try ot take something IVE worked hard for I hope they can outrun a bullet..
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The teens that commit crimes are indeed slapped on the wrist....and seem to have more rights than the victims. Parents need to step in when things seem to be going the wrong way with their kids before they get any older and commit worse crimes.
For example...under 18 even their names are kept from the public. If they are brazen enough to do these crimes then why not publish the names? And if the crimes are serious enough.....then try them as adults.
If they do go to jail....when they come out...their "homies" treat them like heroes....and they fall right back into the same rut that they were in before....and the cycle continues.
Parents need to stand firm and know every single thing the teens are doing every single minute.
Too bad we can't inject a GPS into those little butts! Then we'd probably find ourselves in court with the ACLU.
A no win situation.
Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately, in a lot of instances, the teens don't live with their
parents. It is a foster parent or grandparent they reside with. They have
very little supervision. Second, most of these break ins are directly related to the drug culture that exists in our area. I
challenge everyone to take note of how many times drugs or
alcohol are behind anything bad that happens(i.e. fatal traffic accidents, murders, rapes, robberies, break ins etc,) I started
about 5 years ago doing this and you would be surprised how often one of the 2(drugs or alchohol) are behind these bad events that continually take place. In the mean time, I agree that a good neighborhood watch and being armed are the only viable solutions that the law abiding citizen has at this point.
The sheriff's dept and police can't be everywhere at all times.
The people in the county are probably more vulnerable because because they are more isolated and it takes law enforcement more time to get there.
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Broken homes are a major factor OT..as is the vast drug problem...I agree...and many crimes stem from that.
Anything that is taken during a theft can be sold for drug money.....and those "I gotta have" $300 sneakers.
Very sad indeed.
We have a great police department that does a great job investigating and arresting.
Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We have a great Sheriff's Dept. also. The best way we can help
is by being nosy neighbors and getting tag numbers, descriptions etc. and using our firearms as a last resort if necessary. I know I love my nosy neighbors.
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another problem with the kids is too many parents refuse to see what is in front of their eyes. How many times will a parent/grandparent bail their precious angel out of jail for minor crimes that lead to bigger ones before the time comes they can't do it anymore. How many keep pushing until someone ends up dead? And even then it isn't their fault, they are just being picked on? I have a child and I'm grateful she is a good kid, not a saint but a good kid. I know kids make mistakes but instead of always blaming someone else, people need to be held accountable for their actions. You get locked up for stealing, drugs, shooting, etc you can call me but I promise you will sit there for awhile before I come get you so you can think about what got you there and is it really the place you want to be.
Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That should be nosey. My spelling is going in my old age.
Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with that Turtle. Often times the parents are the last one to see that something is wrong.
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know I told this story before but I'll say it again.
My husband when he was 18 got caught with his friend stealing a hub cap from a car. The police called home to have my husband's parents pick him up. His father told the police that he was not coming to pick him up and to keep him there over night.
The next day his father picked him up. He said nothing on the way home. When they got in the door his father told him to sit down. He had a long talk with him (punishment was grounding) but the thing that stuck out in my husband's mind from all this was that he point blank..
"made his father cry".
He said he never in his life saw his father cry until that moment. He said that he never even thought of walking an uneven line after that.
Posted by Blue_Sky (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not care what their poor little problem is......... I have the solution.
Posted by OldTimer (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's so true Bamabunny. If people just know how hurtful their
actions are to family, friends and coworkers then maybe they would think twice before doing some things. But then again, if
they are on drugs or alcohol, they probably don't have enough control of themselves to care.
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 3:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes I guess it would depend on what the problem was OT.
Years ago there never seemed to be a drug problem....there probably was but no one ever really heard about it.
Now a days it's like an epidemic.
The only time I ever experienced drugs like that was after some surgeries. I hated the feeling because it made me feel I was not in control of my body and mind. I just can't understand why people actually pay to feel that.
Posted by jmb1971 (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
good luck with tpd solving any break ins,while i respect the police i also know first hand how they handle break ins.i work in the square not 100 yards from the police station and we were broke into twice in a year,once they used a crowbar on the front door at 2 in the morning.so i will trust my instincts and my glock(which i have a permit for)
Posted by Virtuous (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Years ago there never seemed to be a drug problem....there probably was but no one ever really heard about it."
There have always been drug problems. The thing is, years ago, people actually worked. Regardless of the fact that working supported their drug habit - the bottom line is they "worked". People today are LAZY!!!!!!
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually Virtuous I should have worded that better.
Yes I agree there was a problem back then but not as wide spread as it is today because we never heard too much about it.....it was usually hush hush....and there is much more focus on the drug problem today because it has gotten out of hand.
Posted by Virtuous (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greed is what has gotten it out of hand. Mix it with laziness and you have a recipe for an out of control drug/robbery/theft of property, etc. problem.
Trust me, it was wide spread years ago and also hush, hush...just as you said. To me, that's one of the differences.
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like child abuse. It's always been around but years ago it was never brought out in the opened as it is now.
Posted by oldhog (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Probably some chicken or crack heads that will continue untill their caught. Someone will end up hurt or dead, in this day and time you have to be aware of your surroundings. I pray that we get them first. Some people just don't need to be here. Hope I'm up in a tree stand with my 7 mag and see them busting in my house. I will swear I saw antlers, wow get all tingly inside thinking about it. Thats right liberals it would feel good. It would feel good becouse I would still have my stuff I worked hard for and their would be a few less bad guys that my family and friends would have to worry about.
Posted by Blue_Sky (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep, probably some chicken heads out for a thill and a little spare change. Time to zero in on the deer oldhog.
Posted by Bamabunny (anonymous) on October 16, 2009 at 8:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep that's what we have to do oldhog....zero in on them before they zero in on us. Be conscious of what's the norm in the neighborhood and what's not.
Being one step ahead!
Posted by BabyCougars (anonymous) on October 19, 2009 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Darwin's Law....the ignorant weed themselves out
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