Crime & Safety

Lessons From a Burglar, in Broad Daylight

In a note from Berks-Lehigh Regional Police, Criminal Investigator Peter Nickischer explains how one suspected burglar does his work.

By Investigator Peter Nickischer, Berks-Lehigh Regional Police

It is common practice for police officers of different police agencies, specifically detectives, to share information in regards to crimes and crime patterns. This is especially useful when tracking criminals who operate in multi-city and multi-county regions. Often, burglary suspects will commit a series of crimes in a large geographical area, targeting specific homes for varying reasons.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a colleague who had interviewed a burglary suspect who had committed a series of these crimes in the Lehigh County area. I found what he had to say to be extremely important for those of us who focus on crime prevention.

Please note that the information below was relayed directly to me by a Lehigh County detective. The suspect’s name, the detective’s department, and the location of the crimes are being withheld because the investigation is not complete.

The suspect is a seasoned criminal with a history of drug abuse and property crimes. The suspect told me and the Detective that he canvasses the street during the day in search of homes that appeared to be empty.

The suspect looked for homes with no cars, lights off, and no animals. The suspect also looked for houses with entrances that were discrete and hidden. In addition, he looked for homes that did not display emblems on the windows advertising that the home was protected by an alarm system.

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If those criteria were met, he would then knock to see if anyone was home. When no one responded, he would knock on the rear doors and then, using a tool and force, he would enter the building taking predominately jewelry and some expensive electronic such as laptops and iPods. He would also enter homes of elderly people if he saw them just leaving.

A couple important things to note: Remember, this is one burglary suspect. Not all use the same methods. However, many burglaries in the BLRPD jurisdiction have occurred during the daytime with forced rear entry. This is extremely common.

Please share this information with friends, neighbors, and family.


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