BENNINGTON – As the cleanup from Thursday’s storm continues into the weekend, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies are patrolling the affected areas to prevent looting.
According to Captain Kristopher Peterson, debris from the storm provides an opportunity for these criminals. Patrols help keep people away from places they should not be.
“If somebody is coming in, they will see the sheriffs cruiser multiple times while they are there,” stated Capt. Peterson. “Hopefully that will be enough to deter them.”
Following Thursday’s storm, Captain Peterson tells First Alert 6 that he spoke with an on-duty lieutenant about getting more deputies in the area to combat looting or theft from damaged properties.
After last year’s tornado in Elkhorn, the Sheriff’s Office implemented a similar plan.
“We did 100% ID checks if people lived in these neighborhoods that were affected there last year,” said Capt. Peterson.
“They had a driver’s license and gave us their address so we could confirm who they were and what their purpose was.” Anyone who did not live there was not allowed to enter the neighborhood.”
Looting is a crime of opportunity that can occur at any time of day or night. These criminals search through the debris for anything they can get their hands on.
“Anything with value. Clothing, wood, metal, whatever you can think of, can all be valuable to someone else.
While deputies patrol, there are ways for homeowners to protect their valuables. Captain Peterson recommends posting no trespassing signs around your property.
When relocating, bring valuables with you, hang extra lights, and keep an eye out for unfamiliar cars or large trucks parked in your neighborhood.
“When you call 9-1-1, just tell them it is a non-emergency,” said Captain Peterson. “There is a car here that I just do not recognize, and we will come investigate it.”
The Sheriff’s Office could conduct similar patrols in the aftermath of future disasters.
The plan is to patrol the affected areas until Monday. According to Peterson, there have been no reports of looting since Thursday’s storm.
As always, if you notice something, say something.