Visalia Police arrested two suspected burglars on Friday. Investigators believe they are responsible for at least one burglary in July and possibly some in June.
Burglaries have been happening all over town. Between April and June, Police say thieves broke into 193 homes. Nearly 80 of them happened in June.
Sergeant John Pree said, "Our goal is to catch it before it happens."
Raul Marquez lives in the south end of Visalia. He walks around the neighborhood looking for things out of the ordinary.
Marquez said, "If I watch out for my neighbors, I'm sure they're gonna watch out for me when I'm gone."
Marquez knows everyone on his street. When they work and when they should be home. He also keeps an eye on unfamiliar faces and suspicious vehicles. "We'll pop our heads out and see where they're walking to...eventually they'll see us and walk away and never come back," he added.
It's exactly what police want neighbors to do. But there are other things to look out for. Sergeant Amy Watkins says thieves will knock to see if anyone is home and if nobody answers they'll kick in the door. She says it's always best to answer the door without opening it.
"At least by asking who it is through the door or from an upstairs window so these individuals know someone is home," Watkins added, "Hopefully that will discourage them and they will leave."
She also encourages the public to call police right away when anything suspicious is happening. It might prevent a break in and help police catch more thieves.
TXT 24
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