Burglary ring targeting residential safes, cash, jewelry, and high-end handbags

A burglary crew targeting the Eugene area has been breaking into homes, where the homeowners are more likely to keep cash, jewelry, and other expensive items. They target business owners and other professionals they believe may keep valuables and cash at home. The burglars have stolen safes and appear to have screened/surveilled their potential victims, then broken into the homes while the victims are at work. So far, investigators believe around seven Eugene burglaries are the work of this organized group.

Please take care to not keep large amounts of cash and valuables at home. Consider placing any large cash stores at a financial institution, which can also offer safety deposit boxes for heirlooms and jewelery. Also consider insuring expensive items.

EPD Community Engagement Team offers these additional prevention tips:

• Lock all windows and doors. Use deadbolts on doors that have them
• Install surveillance cameras that will notify you in real time of criminal activity
• Use timers on TVs and lights while away
• Close blinds when away from home and leave exterior lights on at night
• Make the home appear occupied when away or arrange to have someone stay at your house while gone
• Arrange mutual aid with your neighbors, keeping an eye on each other's properties while you are gone
• Also, schedule vacation house checks while gone. https://www.eugene-or.gov/Search?searchPhrase=Home%20Vacation%20Check%20Application&pageNumber=1&perPage=10&departmentId=-1
• Don't store large amounts of cash at home. Some criminals have been known to work together and steal large safes. If you have a safe, ensure it is mounted properly and securely
• Be aware of suspicious persons or vehicles around your neighborhood or at your place of business
• Schedule a free Home Vacation Check while away
• Schedule a Home Safety Assessment with the Eugene Police Department's Community Engagement Team - Use the Eugene Police Community Engagement Team webpage, type in your address in the widget tool to find your specialist. https://www.eugene-or.gov/944/Community-Engagement-Team

Finally, if you are interested inNeighborhood Association, there is a tool on the City's webpage to help start one. EPD does not start them up for people, but we can assist once you have started the process but do not have the signage to provide. https://coeugene.sharepoint.com/sites/CMO/SitePages/Neighborhood-Associations.aspx

Report ALL non-emergency crimes and suspicious activity to the police at 541-682-5111.

You can also report crimes online at https://epd.mypdconnect.com/