WCSO NEWS RELEASE
Over the past few months, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office identified an increasing number of vehicle burglaries involving unlocked cars in the Galena area. Resources were directed to the area, which resulted in detectives arresting several juveniles suspected of being responsible for a number of these burglaries in early August.
As part of its efforts to reduce this crime trend and sustain the reduction, the Sheriff’s Office would like to provide the public with information they can use to help keep their vehicles, and their valuables, safe.
“Vehicle burglaries are generally crimes of opportunity,” Undersheriff Tim Kuzanek said. “If we work together to take away that opportunity, we reduce crime.”
This week, the Sheriff’s Office launched the “Take ConTRoL” campaign which focuses on steps all of us can take to prevent vehicle burglaries.
The key messages of the Take ConTRoL campaign are:
C – Clean it Out: remove valuables from your vehicle.
T – Take your keys with you. Never leave your car running.
R – Report suspicious activity or crimes to the proper authorities as soon as possible.
L – Lock your doors every time. Sheriff’s Office statistics show that 75 percent of this year’s vehicle burglaries involved vehicles that were left unlocked.
The sheriff’s information campaign includes a mailing of nearly 1,000 postcards to Galena area residents with Take ConTRoL information. Roadside reader boards will also be placed along Zolezzi Lane, reminding residents to lock their doors.
“Our focus is on the Galena community due to the fact that the data indicates the current crime trend is the most active in that area,” Kuzanek said. “However, this information is a valuable reminder to all residents as vehicle burglaries take place in every community of Washoe County.”
Additional cards will be distributed as needed. Information about vehicle burglary prevention is available on the sheriff’s website, WashoeSheriff.com, by using the “Staying Safe” link.
Washoe County residents can also stay informed on public safety trends from the Sheriff’s Office via Twitter by following @WashoeSheriff, or by signing up for the sheriff’s monthly Community Partnership Connection e-newsletter at WashoeSheriff.com. These monthly email publications offer practical and valuable information that can help keep residents safe along with updates about Sheriff’s Office programs, services and partnerships within the community.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office celebrated 150 years of proud service and community partnership in 2011. Sheriff Michael Haley is the 25th person elected to serve as the sheriff of Washoe County. His office continues to be the only full service public safety agency operating within northern Nevada and is responsible for operating the consolidated detention facility, regional crime lab, Northern Nevada Counter Terrorism Center, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, court security, service of civil process, traditional street patrols and Regional Animal Services.
