Sheriff Ivey Discusses Recent Burglaries with Suntree Residents

By  //  July 19, 2013

BURGLARS POSING AS CONTRACT WORKERS

ABOVE VIDEO: Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey speaks with SpaceCoastDaily.com about a town meeting with Suntree residents regarding recent burglaries in the community.

Laura Marie Leonard of Suntree gathers information from the Brevard County Sheriff's Office during a town meeting about crime prevention.
Laura Marie Leonard of Suntree gathers information from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office during a town meeting about crime prevention.

 

BREVARD COUNTY • SUNTREE, FLORIDAIn front of a standing-room-only audience at Advent Lutheran Church in Suntree, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office provided residents with the latest information regarding a string of burglaries in the area. Throughout the meeting, Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Sgt. Alan Morrison fielded questions from local residents.

According to Ivey, most of the burglaries are consistent to the I-95 corridor. Burglars are posing as contract workers offering services such as tree trimming, painting or general home maintenance and repair work. During the break ins, the burglars have targeted jewelry and other valuable possessions in master bedrooms.

According to Morrison, the burglars appear to be using a tool to gain entry. Fingerprints and DNA have been obtained and the Sheriff’s Office is awaiting results.

BURGLARY PATTERNS

  • Many of the burglaries are occurring in the morning to early afternoon hours, after  residents leave home for work.
  • Burglary suspects’ vehicles include rental cars, contract vehicles and work trucks with tinted windows.
  • Burglary suspects are posing as tree trimmers, painters, home maintenence contractors to blend into neighborhood environment.
  • Burglary supsects are coming up to front door and asking if you want service. If nobody answers, they often move to the rear of the home and break in.

BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS FROM BREVARD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

  • Don’t keep your alarm signs behind your hedges, where they may not be noticed by burglars.
  • Update your alarm signs and stickers so they’re easily noticed.
  • Consider security film for sliding glass doors and windows. Many burglaries gain entry by kicking through sliding glass doors.
  • Keep garage doors closed, as they are often the primary entry area targeted by burglars.
  • If you’re going to purchase a safe, consider a safe that can be bolted to the ground.
  • If you own a car key remote with an alarm, keep it near your bed as an extra alert in case you suspect someone is outside.
  • If you see a suspicious person at your door,tell them you’re calling the police.

RELATED STORYFree Brev. Sheriff’s App, iWatch, Prevents Crimes

VIDEO FROM THE MEETING