Ascension Parish Sheriff urging residents to lock their vehicles | Crime

Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley is encouraging citizens to be vigilant and cautious as his detectives are investigating a rash of vehicle burglaries and a residential burglary in the St. Amant area.  Recently, the burglars have targeted areas of Highway 935 (Stringer Bridge Road), Beco Road, Billingsley Road, and Edward Guidry Road.         

The common thread found during this investigation is that all of the vehicles that were targeted were unlocked. The vehicles that were stolen were unlocked with the keys left in the vehicle.

Sheriff Wiley is offering some precautionary measures that may deter criminals from making you a victim:

·        LOCK YOUR VEHICLES/ DO NOT LEAVE KEYS IN VEHICLE/ REMOVE VALUABLES

·         Lock all doors on your home and sheds.

·         If you have an alarm system, visibly display signs.

·         Remember to close and lock all windows.

·         Leave interior lights on when you go out for the evening. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on during nighttime hours and off during the day.

·         Have motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home that automatically turn on at sunset and turn off at sunrise. 

·         If you have a home security system, arm it when you are inside and when you are away.

·         Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.

Sheriff Wiley ask that if you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:

• Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be inside.
• Use a neighbor's phone to call police.
• Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

Other precautions you should take:

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques.  Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
• Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
• Be a good neighbor.  If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9­1­1 immediately.
• Mark your valuables with your driver's license number with an engraver.  Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
• Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. The Sheriff’s Office can help you and your neighbors improve security and reduce risk of burglary.

The most important thing you can do is call the Sheriff's office to report a crime or any suspicious activity.  You can also report a tip through our anonymous alert system by texting APSO and a message to 847411 (tip411).

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