Duncan Park neighborhood's experience rash of break-in's

By: WSPA Staff | News Channel 7
Published: January 25, 2008

Living in Duncan Park has had Christina West on edge so much so that she and her family are thankful they are packing up and moving to the Montana.

"I always sleep with my cell phone by my bed," says West, whose husband is in the military and is being assigned to a new post in Montana. And she sleeps with her cell phone by her side for a good reason.

There have been break-in after break-in after break-in in the Duncan Park area. Thieves are making off with valuable goods, including a prized possession of one of West's neighbors.

"My previous neighbor's son's had his bike stolen," West said. And just recently, thieves stolen a laptop comput and Sony Playstation from another house in the area.

With the recent rash of break-in's, people in the surrounding area have had enough. They are calling on Spartanburg Public Safety to step up patrols and ensure the safety of everyone.

"I think they need to keep an eye on the neighborhood a little better," West said. However, according to Captain Randy Hardy of Spartanburg Public Safety, officers are patrolling the area.

"It's on their plates," Hardy told NewsChannel 7. "Our guys would love nothing more than to catch someone breaking into someone's house."

Yet, Hardy is quick to point out that a break-in is a crime of "opportunity" and thieves know exactly what time to hit. So much so that some of the crimes in the area have come during the daytime when nobody is home.

"If people can break into someone's home and no one has heard anything, something's not working," Hardy said.

While West is moving away, something that the neighbor's she is leaving behind may benefit them more to prevent such crimes.

Hardy says that neighbors need to be more vigilant and look out for each other, and get an active neighborhood watch group organized. Also, posting signs and letting thieves know you are paying may be the best deterents to keep the rash of break-in's down.