Security cameras have been in the news lately when they recorded criminal activity. Some video footage was virtually worthless as in the case of a jewelry store robbery where the cameras were of poor quality and positioned such that their view was essentially useless.  Others were crystal clear as when a young man was dragged out of a store and murdered.

Thieves have been targeting wireless security cameras at Linwood Washington homes.  It is possible to remove wireless cameras from their mountings and get away with an intact camera which can be sold or used by the thief.  Wired security cameras are usually more difficult for thieves to remove without damage.

One easily removable camera which comes to mind is the Arlo by Netgear with its magnetic base.  Thieves recently stole an Arlo camera in Linwood by knocking it loose from its magnetic mount with a broom.

Both Dav Eide and I have been victims of camera thefts, but in our case the cameras were wired models which were destroyed when the thieves removed them from their mountings.

If you have cameras it is wise to place them where it is difficult for thieves or vandals to get to them and if possible have cameras positioned so that people approaching them are in view of another camera.

Below is a link to the KIRO Chanel 7 news report on the Lynnwod thefts.

https://www.kiro7.com/news/north-sound-news/thieves-target-security-cameras-at-lynnwood-homes/781879134

This week I got a call from a friend in Louisiana.  My friend’s sister and her husband were in a very bad accident when, on a four lane highway, an 18 year old male hit their car from behind and both cars rolled.  They will be in the hospital for a while. Their relatives and friends have been posting on Facebook about the accident and the fact that my friends will not be home for some time. On 20 June I got another call telling me that their home had been burglarized.  Someone threw a brick through a window and climbed in. They left with the family silverware and jewelry in one of the pillowcases they took from the linen closet.

Please everyone hear this –  DO NOT POST ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA SITES  THAT YOUR HOME WILL BE VACANT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS.  The bad guys look for just such information, just like they read the obituaries to find out who has died and when the funeral is going to be. If you are going to be gone, and the information is public knowledge, you owe it to yourself to also let it be known that there will be someone living at your home until you get back (whether this is true or not). It is also a good idea to let some trusted neighbors know when you will be gone and when you expect to return.

This week Bad Guys driving a White Honda with a Black hood entered Shawnee Ridge around Midnight and stole a package from the doorstep of a house on 111th St. Court E.  The vehicle was seen on cameras from two houses in the area and working backward from the information provided we were able to positively identify them as having license plate AAK 0463.  Vehicles using this license plate have been identified in several incidents of theft and vandalism in our area.  Police report that they do not have an address connected with that license plate and it is presumably stolen.  Two of the case reports associated with this vehicle are #  1730100721 and # 1808501544 (or it might be 18045014544, the Deputy’s writing is unclear)   .

Because this incident was reported to the Sheriff’s Office as a repeat incident involving the same vehicle license plate, a Sheriff’s Deputy was sent out to take a report.  Unfortunately the home from which the package was stolen did not have cameras, so there was no direct evidence that the people driving the Honda (AAK 0463) were responsible for the theft.  All the Deputy could do was take a general report.

This incident did show that cooperation by neighbors who have cameras works.  We were able to identify the vehicle and get its license plate because we had pictures of the vehicle and a definite time it was in the Neighborhood. When more people have cameras, everyone benefits.

For a look at previous post about this license plate see: Tis the Season “to have your packages stolen”  &  –ALERT– Recent Suspicious/Criminal Activity In Our Neighborhood.