Guam records 79 burglaries in a single month

by Jolene Toves

Guam - Robberies, burglaries and home invasions, an increase in reports have turned the spotlight on crime. From June 4th to July 5th GPD received 79 reports of burglaries to residences and businesses and 59 burglaries were reported to vehicles. These statistics are alarming while these crimes happen throughout the island, spokesman Lt. Art Paulino shares that some areas are prone.

"We are seeing quite a number of burglaries being committed in the central area, specifically Barrigada, but more so in the Agana Heights-Sinajana area but still statistically I think it's in the Dededo area," he shared.

While some burglaries are committed by juvenile offenders, according to Paulino often times burglaries are fueled by a drug or gambling addiction and are deemed crimes of opportunity where the payout outweighs the chances of capture. "When they are looking at crimes against property you discover that reason purpose of the break-ins is that they are trying to find cheap cash jewelry what can they sell off really quick to be able to support a drug habit and or gambling habit," he said.

While the Legislature has been working on measures aimed at protecting our community, .here are some key tips to remember in lowering your home's risk of being targeted. "Turn your lights on when you're there or not there leave your lights on if you have newspapers delivered to your homes do not let the newspapers sit out there make sure someone is collecting the paper always make it seem like someone is actually home you could do that by turning on the radios," he said.

He adds that making it appear as though someone is home and not falling into a routine or noticeable pattern of behavior are key.

It only takes one cracked window or unlocked door to find yourself at a loss. There are additional safety measures that can be taken depending on your budget. Various security agencies offer a selection of services . G4S systems operation manager Ed Bitanga said, "We can offer alarm systems your basic intrusion alarm devices which covers doors, windows and basically it's an alarm system that has door contacts window contacts motion sensors."

He adds the motion sensors if tripped will send an alert to the central monitoring system. Bitanga says these security systems can provide an additional peace of mind and the price range can vary from a couple of hundreds of dollars to thousands.

While taking these precautions may not guarantee your home is completely secure...it may make perpetrators think twice.