BOULDER, Colo. — The COVID-19 outbreak hasn’t stopped criminal activity in Boulder. In fact, Boulder police said Monday that the city had seen a significant increase in burglaries over the past several weeks.
From March 1 to April 10, Boulder police said they had taken a total of 79 burglary reports. In comparison, in 2019, there were a total of 28 burglaries during the same period.
Police said 80% of the homes criminals targeted were unlocked, and 62% occurred when the victims were at home. Burglaries from unlocked or open garages accounted for 35% of the reported burglaries, according to police.
Police urge community members to keep homes and businesses safe by following these tips:
- Thieves are looking for easy access, so always lock your doors and windows, even when you are at home.
- Close and lock garage doors, even when you are home.
- Reinforce doors and windows with barricades or security bars.
- Use motion sensing lights.
- Ensure your security system is on and working properly. If you don’t have one, simply placing alarms signs around your home can deter a burglar.
- Don’t hide spare keys.
- Don’t showcase your absence on social media.
- Keep your valuables out of sight. Outside, keep things like tools and bikes locked in a garage.
- Clear landscaping in front of your home that could provide a burglar with somewhere to hide.
