Police Warn Residents About Daytime Burglaries

Central Ohio towns and neighborhoods have seen a spike in daytime burglaries.

Hilliard has seen nine burglaries, Upper Arlington has seen 11 and Columbus has seen more than 20 daytime burglaries in the past few weeks.

Jim Martin said that thieves got into his house through an unlocked sliding door.

“Then I said, ‘Oh No,’ and I immediately went into my office, which is where I have my championship ring, my watch, my gold diamond ring, and said, ‘Oh, they got me.’” Martin said.

Thieves stole Martin’s 1957 Ohio State National Championship ring.

“The things we were always taught, taught to win, not to lose, just another hurdle in life that you have to go through,” Martin said.

Hilliard Deputy Chief Robert Fisher said that residents can take precautions to protect their homes. One example is using window locks.

“When you raise the window, it stops right there,” Fisher said. “Criminals are looking for easy targets and not willing to work too hard to get what they’re after.”

The Columbus burglary unit said simple protection can make it harder and more frustrating for thieves.

Officials said residents should consider items that work like door jams that go under doorknobs or screws on top of sliding door tracks.

Hilliard police said that they have increased by cruiser and bike patrols and were working with neighbors like Dublin, Columbus, Upper Arlington and Grove City to find links between the recent burglaries.

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