Break-ins become a problem

The Mineral County Neighbors for a Safe Community organization is holding a public forum on March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Superior High School to discuss the crime in the county.

Organizer Mary Jo Berry said that she believes there have been a “rash” of break-ins over the past eight months and wants the community to come together so they can nd a solution.

“The only way we can figure out what to do is to come together and share our stories. If you were the victim of a break-in whether it is your home, business, vehicles, we’d like to have you come and share your story,” she said.

Berry said that her home was entered back in November even though she was still home and the experience has left her frightened.

“I want my neighbors to feel safe, and I want a safe community,” she said.

Mineral County Sheriff Ernie Ornelas says that he doesn’t feel that there has been a large number of burglaries. From October through February, there have only been a total of five, with the largest number, three, occurring back in November. As for thefts around the county, he said there have been complaints of people having gas taken out of their cars. He said that as far as people taking belongings out of yards and more, there is usually something happening.

As for the burglaries, Ornelas said that some may have been drug related.

“The biggest issue is people need to lock things up,” Ornelas said. “I think this part of Montana has been living in the past so to speak, where people leave car doors unlocked, sheds and homes. They’re not worried about this kind of stuff, but that’s changed. We’ve caught up with the rest of the nation. When you leave something unlocked, you allow people to come in.”

Ornelas said that there have been a couple of occurrences where criminals have broken locks, but a lot of it is that things weren’t locked to begin with.

Ornelas said that he and Undersheriff Mike Boone are planning to be at the meeting to answer questions and talk about what residents need to do. He said that he sees no reason to look as far back into the summer of 2010.

Also at the meeting will be Jackie Mumm from Blackfoot Security to present information on other things that can be done to protect your home in lieu of putting up security video system.