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The City of Sheboygan went an entire month without a single reported burglary in November.  This is the first time for at least several decades that the city has not experienced any burglaries in a calendar month, and highlights the work city residents are doing to help prevent burglaries from happening.
 
Burglaries are defined by Wisconsin law as someone entering a home or business without permission and with the intent to steal or commit another felony.  “Up until about a decade ago, Sheboygan residents and businesses were reporting more than 200 burglaries every year,” said Kurt Zempel, captain of the Sheboygan Police Department’s patrol division.  “Looking at historical reports as far back as the 1970s, burglaries fluctuated between about 200 a year to as many as 500.  In some months, as many as 50 burglaries were reported – nearly two a day.  Since a recent peak in 2007 of 430 burglaries, however, there has been a steady downward trend,” he said.  Through November this year, the city has seen just 64 reported burglaries.
 
Zempel credits the Sheboygan Police Department’s work with residents and business owners on prevention efforts as bringing about such a dramatic decline.  “The reality is that almost every property crime is preventable,” he said.  “And by helping people recognize the simple things they can do to avoid becoming a victim, together we have had a tremendous impact on the safety of our community.”
 
Zempel said that regular reminders for residents and businesses to be mindful of security – with locking doors and securing any valuables, or by adding lighting, cameras or security systems – can make it both harder for thieves to break in and more likely that they’ll be caught.  These are practices that the police department has been stressing for years, partnering with neighborhood associations, business groups and others in the community to help reinforce their effectiveness.
 
“This is something that every Sheboygan resident and business owner should be proud of,” he said.  “The fact is that our community is safer today because everyone is willing to pitch in and help keep themselves and their neighbors from becoming a victim.”
 
While there is cause for celebration, Zempel said there is still more work that can be done to prevent crime.  “This doesn’t mean we should let our guard down.  Our hope is that this will help remind our community to keep up safe practices – and remember to do the same for other types of preventable crime,” he said.  He also pointed out that the city has experienced 29 thefts of vehicles so far this year, and in almost every case the keys were left in the vehicle.
 
“Crime prevention comes down to simple habits,” he said.  “Every one of those thefts could have been avoided by simply not leaving the keys in an unlocked car.  Every time you park, every time you leave home, every time you go to bed, taking a few seconds to double-check that everything is secured is all it takes to help keep Sheboygan a safe place for everyone.”