Hollister
– Residential burglaries in Hollister jumped 73 percent in 2006,
according to statistics released by the Hollister Police Department
on Wednesday.
Hollister – Residential burglaries in Hollister jumped 73 percent in 2006, according to statistics released by the Hollister Police Department on Wednesday.
In 2006, there were 199 residential burglaries reported in the City of Hollister compared to 115 in 2005.
Despite an increase in burglaries, reports of assaults and vehicle thefts were down. In 2006, there were 92 aggravated assaults reported, down from 121 in 2005. Reported car thefts dropped from 138 in 2005 to 101 in 2006. Although fewer violent crimes were reported in 2006 compared to 2005, the number of murders increased. No murders were reported in 2005, but last year there were two.
Laura Lee, who moved to Hollister from Aromas in October 2006, said hearing about the rise in burglaries concerns her, but that she doesn’t fear for the security of her home.
“I have a dog and my neighbor has two dogs,” she said.
Lee said the dogs bark whenever anyone nears the properties.
Another woman, who declined to give her name but said she lived in the Mission Oaks Mobile Home Park on San Juan Road in Hollister, had just bought a refreshment Tuesday evening at Albertson’s on McCray Street. The woman said she had noticed an increase in burglaries in her neighborhood. She said it was worried her because she doesn’t have the income to replace her property if it’s stolen.
Police Capt. Bob Brooks said the rise concerns the department as well. Brooks did not offer a direct cause, but said the rise was most likely a combination of several factors.
Convicted burglars recently released from prison, increased drug use and more residents reporting burglaries could have contributed to the rise, Brooks said.
Brooks said burglars are often repeat offenders.
“Usually nobody commits just one burglary,” he said.
Brooks added that burglaries can be a group effort.
“Some kids will get together and do a group of burglaries, five or 10 maybe,” Brooks said. “We have juveniles that commit burglaries all the time.”
Brooks said Hollisterites can take several steps to prevent burglaries not only to their home, but for their neighbors as well.
“The way to prevent residential burglaries is to not make yourself a target,” he said.
Locking doors and windows, having good lighting and getting to know neighbors will help prevent home burglaries, Brooks said.
Brooks said knowing the neighborhood and reporting suspicious activity is a key to burglary prevention.
“If you don’t know if it’s a stranger or the person who lives there, that’s bad,” he said.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
