"I don't know if it's so much a crime wave or is it just a sign of the times."
Hanford Police say the consistent, early inmate releases are what's fueling an uptick in burglaries.
From July to September of 2011, police reported about 600 incidents.
This year, it's 800.
Police say it's a combination of auto and home burglaries.
Capt. Parker Sever, Hanford Police: "There's people going around, they're looking through windows and if they something of value, they break the window and they go in there and take the item."
The burglaries are happening in an area from downtown, to just north of Grangeville Blvd, mostly on the weekends.
Police say the thieves take things like electronics, cash and jewelry.
While early inmate releases are nothing new, it's really the first time Hanford is having to deal with the problem on a consistent basis.
"If you look at who's getting released from the jail facilities, it's the people that are committing thefts and so when you take away the punishment, we're seeing the very people we arrested the night before for burglary out on the street again."
Patrols have been increased, and residents are taking extra steps to secure their homes.
Detectives say in some of these burglaries, doors were left unlocked, and garage doors were left open.
"Many of the crimes they're committing are crimes of opportunity. "
Daniel Gonzalez has lived in this Hanford neighborhood for 13 years.
His car's been broken into a couple of times.
But he says it's more than just burglaries. He says there have been shootings, and stabbings, regularly.
He's already spoken to his neighbors about looking out for each other.
"I have cameras all throughout my house, outside. And one of my best defenses is actually my chihuahuas because they have the high pitch bark."
No arrests have been made in this recent series of burglaries.
If you have any information, you are urged to call Hanford Police at 585-2540.
TXT 24
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