Ketchikan Police Department. (KRBD file photo)
There have been some recent reports of vehicle break-ins in Ketchikan’s Carlanna area.
Deputy Police Chief Josh Dossett said such reports are not uncommon.
“Vehicle break-ins have been going on since I started my career almost 24 years ago,” he said.
Dossett said this kind of crime is a crime of opportunity.
“You usually have somebody from teenagers to young adults that are going along the avenues during the evening, during darkness, trying doors,” he said. “The best thing you can do is lock your door.”
Dossett said it’s rare for anyone to break out a window, so the vast majority of vehicle break-ins involve unlocked cars.
He also suggested that people not leave anything of value in their cars.
“Keep spare change, keep electronics, keep firearms, anything of value out of your car,” he said. “At the end of the night, take it inside and keep it there. Don’t leave your keys in the car. It’s truly a crime of opportunity.”
Dossett stressed that Ketchikan is a safe community, but there still are some people who will take advantage of such opportunities.
On top of locking up vehicles and not leaving items in cars, he suggested that people lock their homes, and not leave anything valuable outside, where someone walking by can just pick it up.
