By Jessie Gable
jgable@timesfreepress.com
A recent e-mail from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office asks neighborhood watch captains to forward detailed information about burglaries in their areas.
But the message has confused some, who thought the sheriff’s office was warning them about burglaries actually taking place.
“There have been home burglaries in which thieves are knocking on the front/back doors and windows of homes and waiting for a response from the homeowners,” the e-mail states. “If there is no response, they will kick in the door (usually the back door) and enter the home.”
Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said the e-mail only was intended to inform residents of the possibility of a burglary rather than to alert them of specific incidents.
Wendy Baubach, resident communication coordinator for the Mountain Shadows Residents Association, said she forwarded the e-mail to her neighbors and did not receive any feedback concerning vandalism, burglary or other crimes in the Mountain Shadows community.
Ms. Atkinson said the number of reported burglaries in 2010 has dropped from 2009, and the e-mail only was sent because the number of burglary and property damage reports usually increases during the summer months when teens are under less supervision.