Home break-ins spark community forum in Salisbury | News

CHESTERFIELD, VA (WWBT) - When you're away from home, burglars may be eyeing your house. That's been the case at least three times in recent weeks in Chesterfield's Salisbury neighborhood.

People who live there want to know what to do about it. Tonight they'll get some answers from police.

If a burglar is on the prowl, David Nelson has a few things in his favor. He's home most of the time. When he's not, he has a state of the art alarm and his two best friends.

"It gives me some comfort as well that the dog is sort of an early warning system," said Nelson.

There seems to be quite a few watchdogs in Salisbury where in just over one week, a burglar managed to hit three homes. Two last month on the same block of Castlebridge Road. The third this month on Thorngate Road. All three between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In each case, the burglar broke a window. Homeowners returned to find missing jewelry, computers and cash. Not the norm for this community.

"It's very alarming when someone breaks in to your home, or you hear about someone breaking in someone's home, you know close by it's a big concern," said Ed Malloy, President of the Salisbury Homeowners Association.

So much concern, Malloy said his neighbors requested a meeting with police.

"There's our home deterrent," said Malloy about his two dogs.

Malloy feels his home is secure, but wonders if he could do more.

"I think the main question is what do you do when you're not at home. I think the criminals have a profile of what they look for," said Malloy.

Police recommend trying to make it look like you're always home. Leave a light on and your television set for noise. They also point out that yard decorations can be used to break a window.

Nelson said he knows a determined criminal will do just about anything.

"If somebody wants to get in your house, they'll do it with a chainsaw so you just hope the neighborhood is aware," said Nelson.

The Salisbury Homeowners Association community forum on the break-ins starts at 7 p.m. tonight at the Church of the Redeemer on Winterfield Road. You'll hear from a panel of speakers from the Chesterfield Police Department.

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