The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office reported that there were 20 theft of properties for the month of November that they responded to. While many people are traveling during this busy time, Captain Tom Tuma recommends taking extra precaution, especially during the holiday season, to make sure your homes, garages, and other valuables are locked up.
“If you’re going to be away for a day or two visiting friends or relatives, it’s never a bad thing to let a trusted neighbor know you’re going to be gone,” said Captain Tuma. “Thefts are on the rise in our region, so having somebody keep an eye on your place and calling us if there’s anything suspicious going on. We’d rather come out and have something be nothing than to find out later and wish somebody would have called us and given us a heads up.”
For those who may be gone for any extended period, Captain Tuma says the Shawano County Sheriff’s Officer is there to help.
“If you are going to be away for an extended period, you can definitely call the Sheriff’s Office and request a home check and our officers will make a point in their patrol activity to swing by and make sure the home is secured and to see if they see anything suspicious.”
Captain Tuma also stressed the importance of closing your drapes if you are away, as not to lure any criminal activity.
“If you’re away especially, make sure you’re closing your drapes,” Tuma recommended. “What we don’t want to have happen is allow people to take the opportunity to window shop, to look in those windows, see a bunch of packages and say yeah this is a home worth breaking into because I’m seeing a ton of stuff around the Christmas tree here.”
It’s also important for those who do most of their shopping online to know when their package is expected to arrive, so that it’s not sitting on your porch for an extended period, as the thieves do scour neighborhoods looking for easy, unattended opportunities.
Those who wish to have their home checked on by a Sheriff’s Deputy can call the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 526-3111.