By Polly Keary, Editor
A rash of burglaries appears to be on the wane in the Sultan area, thanks in part to community vigilance, Sultan Police Chief Jeff Brand believes.
Between Sept. 21 and Dec. 18, there were 21 burglaries in Sultan, according to an information sheet put out by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department.
With the help of local volunteer Ray Colman, a skilled data analyst, Sultan police discovered a pattern to the crimes and warned town residents.
No burglaries occurred Mondays or Tuesdays, burglaries often came in through a rear door or window, and item stolen were mostly small, such as jewelry and cash. Burglaries tended to happen during the day, and most were concentrated into a particular area between U.S. 2 and High Street, and between 1st and 8th streets.
The information sheets were handed out throughout town, and police started to get some results.
"We had about 15 volunteers that spend a few hours on the 18th and 19th going door to door to every house between US 2 and the north end of Sultan between 1st and 9th, and every house had one of those fliers delivered to the residence or attached to the door to try to get the word out to everyone," said Brand.
Toward the end of December, burglaries tailed off somewhat. And so far in January, there has only been two burglaries reported, and no thefts or vehicle thefts.
Sultan police have arrested four people on suspicion of burglary in the last month and are seeking another suspect, and that limey has contributed to the reduction in crimes.
Also, residents have been very vigilant, said Brand.
"I had a great example this afternoon on 700 block of 5th Street," said Brand last week. "A young lady was trying to go in a back window and a neighbor who knew about the problem called us, and four of us got there. It turned out it was her mom's place, but a citizen was watching."
Staff reductions due to budget cuts have meant less police presence in town, so having citizens get involved in their own security has important, said Brand.
"We are looking at citizens to watch, notice what's normal, what's not normal," he said. "Use common sense, and call 911."
He advises citizens to be ready to give important details to 911, such as descriptions or suspicious behavior.
"It's a force multiplier," said Brand. "Instead of just seven or eight sets of eyes, it gives us 4,600 sets of eyes."
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