Official: Burglaries increasing

A spokesman for the Roosevelt County Sheriff told county commissioners Tuesday that burglaries are on an unusual upswing.

Chief Deputy Malin Parker said sheriff's deputies and the Portales Police Department are working to catch the suspects responsible for at least eight burglaries in the county the past month.

Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Malin Parker said his department arrested a juvenile suspect Monday and is investigating multiple other suspects in the burglaries.

He said his department has physical evidence indicating there are three burglar crews operating in the area.

"I can say it's just been by luck that they (burglars) have evaded capture this long," Parker said.

"When you have this many burglaries occurring somebody talks, somebody slips up, somebody gets caught."

According to Parker, the burglaries have occurred in various places in the county during the day and at night and follow no pattern.

Parker said his department and the city police investigative division have arrested four to five suspects in connection with burglaries in the county. Parker said residents living in scarcely populated areas of the county tend to survey each others' homes better.

"I think county residents watch each others' houses very closely," Parker said.

"When there's not as many of us (law enforcement) that's when the citizens come into play and really help out the sheriff's office."

Parker provided the following tips to protect one's home against burglary:

• Do not disclose information about any upcoming trips out of town on social media. If you must post information about a trip, do so when you return from your trip.
• Remain cognizant of any activity that seems out of the ordinary. Report any suspicious activity, no matter how minor it seems, to law enforcement immediately.

When reporting suspicious activity include a description of the suspect's vehicle and the suspect's physical appearance. Also, try to get the suspect's license plate number and the direction they were last seen heading and at what time.

• Help keep an eye on your neighbors homes.
• Always lock doors and windows and set alarms when leaving home.
• Always activate automatic image capture devices such as surveillance cameras when leaving home.

Roosevelt County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1000 to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of any burglar. For Crime Stoppers call 356-8100.