Homer, Alaska - News - Pioneer Avenue break-ins continue 11/12/08

Story last updated at 9:39 PM on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Pioneer Avenue break-ins continue

BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER

A string of burglaries of downtown businesses continued as two more Pioneer Avenue businesses were broken into last week -- one for the second time since May. Burglaries were discovered last Friday morning at Bay Realty and the Homer Bookstore, across the street from each other near the intersection of Pioneer Avenue and Svedlund Street. The Homer Bookstore was first hit last May. Someone also attempted to break down the door of the Homer Tribune on Pioneer Avenue Nov. 5.

Robbers took business papers from Bay Realty and cash from the Homer Bookstore. Burglars broke a window to get into Bay Realty and pried open a lock to get into the bookstore.

As Homer police investigated those latest crimes, this week police charged four juveniles with burglary for an August break-in of the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic on Ben Walters Way.

In that incident a bank deposit bag with checks made out to the clinic was turned in to police, and investigators discovered the clinic had been burglarized. Evidence from that burglary led to police serving search warrants and interviewing suspects.

Last month, police forwarded charges of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and tampering with evidence against a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy to the Office of Juvenile Probation. Two other juveniles are being sought on similar charges.

Lt. Randy Rosencrans said police don't know if the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic burglary is related to over a dozen break-ins that have occurred since spring.

Alaska State Troopers have been helping police investigate the run of burglaries.

"We've had officers out of town contact various suspects," Rosencrans said. "We're trying to put together leads to see if any of these are related."

In most of the recent burglaries, thieves have broken into buildings through windows or by jimmying locks. The thieves pass up items like digital cameras and computers, and take only cash. Police suspect at least two people have been involved in some of the burglaries, Rosencrans said. Some burglaries have involved vehicles, and in one case a heavy safe was taken.

Since May, businesses broken into include Sweet Berries Caf, Ellen's Acupuncture, Tech Connect, Lazer Print, Homer Net and Crabbie's Restaurant, all on Pioneer Avenue. Gig's Beads and Things on Ocean Drive, Inner Nature Chiropractic, Sun Dog Consultants and Homer Public Health, all on Bunnell Avenue, also have been broken into, as was Kachemak Bay Sports Medicine and Orthopedics on Bartlett Street. Burglars attempted to break into other businesses, but were scared off by alarms. In the Tech Connect break-in, burglars turned off power and ripped out phone lines to disable an alarm system.

Debra Leisek, owner of Bay Realty, called on other businesses to get together to stop the crime wave.

"We as business people need to get together and protect ourselves," she said. "We need to as a community band together and do what it takes to protect our businesses."

Rosencrans said the best thing businesses can do is get a professional system installed that's monitored by a security agency. If a break-in occurs, an audible alarm goes off and the agency notifies police.

Businesses also can get less-expensive security systems with motion-detectors that turn on alarms. Rosencrans suggested putting in more lighting or motion-activated lighting, leaving cash registers open and making nightly deposits at banks.

The Homer Police Departmetn is updating its business security survey program. For the survey, businesses provide information to police on after-hours contacts, who's allowed to be in the business after closing, types of locks and security systems. Businesses already in the survey should update their information, too, Rosencrans said.

Some burglaries happen late at night or early in the morning, but others have been between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. -- a time when early-rising employees might be coming to work. Rosencrans advised businesses to call police to secure the building if a break-in is suspected.

Police encouraged people with information about the burglaries to make anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at (800) 478-4258. Rewards of up to $1,000 can be paid for information leading to an arrest.

"We find it hard to believe somebody doesn't know something about what's going on," Rosencrans said. "We encourage anyone with direct knowledge about these burglaries to give us a call, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously."

For information on the business security survey, call the Homer Police at 235-3150.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.

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