Increased Commercial Breaking & Entering Cases

Statesville, NC, June 11, 2024 – The Statesville Police Department has observed an increase in commercial breaking and entering cases over the past couple of weeks. Investigators are working to determine if there are any connections among these cases.

Since January, SPD has responded to 38 incidents of commercial breaking and entering, with seven of those incidents occurring in the last two weeks.

In response, SPD has increased directed patrols and remains committed to business checks during nighttime hours to deter potential criminal activity.  Additionally, the SPD Crime Prevention Officer will be available to meet with business owners to provide feedback and suggestions on how to better equip their establishments against burglaries.

We are committed to working with the business community to address this issue and offer the following recommendations for protecting businesses against burglaries:

• Install an alarm system and post warnings in clear view that the business is equipped with an alarm system.
• Install security cameras; opt for cameras with a battery backup to ensure continuous surveillance.
• Increase lighting and add motion detection lights.
• Secure all entry points when leaving the building and ensure that windows are securely locked.
• Install heavy duty deadbolts and reinforce door jams.
• Evaluate landscaping and outdoor features to ensure that landscaping does not provide cover for criminals.
• Remove expensive items from display windows.
• Always remove cash from registers overnight.

We urge all business owners and employees to remain alert. If you see something suspicious, do not hesitate to report it to the Statesville Police Department at 704-878-3406.