Three Woodinville Burglaries Similar To 'Rash' Of Eastside Break Ins

WOODINVILLE, WA - Woodinville police are reporting that they have seen three recent burglaries in the area that match with a rash of break-ins happening in cities around the Eastside. Last week, Redmond police warned of 19 similar burglaries that have occurred in the downtown and Overlake neighborhoods.

The three Woodinville burglaries all occurred at apartments - as was the case in the Redmond burglaries - and the perpetrators used pry tools to gain access to the units. The burglaries happened during the day, and the burglars took cash and jewelry, avoiding items like electronics, according to Woodinville police.

Redmond police called the burglaries a "rash," and said that other Eastside communities have seen similar crimes.

Woodinville police shared a number of tips to help residents prevent break-ins:

• Always lock windows and doors when you're away from home
• Make burglars think you're home. Leave the radio on, and use light timers if you're away on vacation or out at night
• Answer when someone knocks - burglars often will knock to check if a person is home
• Use a safe at home for valuables, or store them off-site in a safe-deposit box
• Keep an inventory of valuable items, including pictures and serial numbers
• If you rent, get rental insurance to cover your valuables in case of a burglary
• Meet and know your neighbors and encourage them to call 911 if they see suspicious activity; additionally, always let apartment managers know about suspicious activity
• Talk to building management about helping make apartments look occupied by removing newspapers, mail, or other detritus that might accumulate while you're away

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