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Lancaster launches Burglary Suppression Team

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Contributed by: City of Lancaster on 7/17/2008

As the latest in its efforts to combat crime, the Lancaster Sheriff's Station and the City of Lancaster have launched a Burglary Suppression Team.

The team, which is composed of two patrol deputies, two members of the Target Oriented Policing (TOP) team and two deputies who will man a truancy car, will focus solely on solving residential and commercial burglaries.

"We are sending the message loud and clear that crime will not be tolerated in the City of Lancaster," said Mayor R. Rex Parris. "I am confident that this new unit will play a significant role in reducing our crime rate and protecting our citizens from the violation of their homes, businesses and property."

The team is one way that the city and sheriff's station are working together to meet the goal set by the City Council of reducing the crime rate.

"This is part of a long-term, forward-thinking effort to reduce crime," said City Manager Mark Bozigian. "Public safety is clearly our top priority. We are constantly reassessing the city's needs and improving public safety through new methods and resources."

Reducing burglaries will play an important part in reaching this goal.

"Burglaries compose a significant portion of our crime rate, and we are continually adding new tools and methods to our arsenal in fighting these crimes," said Sgt. Kent Kroeger of the detective bureau, who supervises the new team. "This six-man team will focus solely on solving burglaries all day, every day."

Although the team was launched just last Monday, it has already seen significant results. In its first eight days alone, the team made 15 arrests and recovered more than $10,000 worth of stolen goods.

One major burglary solved was the theft of several thousand dollars worth of electronic equipment from Valley Bible Church. Within two days, the suspects were arrested and all but one of the stolen items has been recovered.

"We realize that burglaries are the crime that probably affects individual citizens the most," said Lt. Don Downton of the detective bureau. "The invasion of a home or business and the theft of personal property carry emotional effects as well as financial ones. We are working to prevent such personal violations and recover personal property to help reduce those effects."

Officials recognize that young adults play a significant role in burglary rates. To address this problem, two members of the Burglary Suppression Team will man a truancy car when school is in session.

In addition to their regular duties as members of the team, they will collaborate with schools and community attendance workers to identify habitual truants and keep them off the streets and in school.

"Truants are a huge factor in our residential burglaries," said Kroeger. "Through this team, we will attack the problem at its source, which will help prevent burglaries and keep our community safer. We will also hold parents accountable for keeping their kids in school, where they belong."

The team is the Lancaster Sheriff's Station's first unit to be dedicated entirely to solving burglaries. Officials are confident that the team will continue to produce significant results in recovering stolen goods and arresting those responsible.

"Fighting crime is this Council's number-one priority, and this unit shows our continuing commitment to keeping our residents safe," said Parris. "Criminals are not welcome in Lancaster. We will continue to do everything in our power to get them off the streets and behind bars."

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