Following a string of recent overnight burglaries at several businesses in the northern end of the village of Ballston Spa, police are urging business owners to pay closer attention to locking up their shops safely.
Over the last couple of months, there have been burglaries where the thieves gained entry pretty easily through back doors, and even through a broken window in the front of a building, said village police officer Dave Bush. `It’s not that the village is becoming a huge area for crime; it comes in spurts, but we need everyone ` business owners and residents ` to keep their eyes out and report anything they see.`
The burglars took undisclosed amounts of cash from businesses, including Dunkin’ Donuts on Doubleday Avenue and NAPA Auto Parts on Route 50, as well as hauling out safes not bolted to the floor, and even stealing cash registers.
`Why anyone would keep cash in their store overnight is a real mystery to me,` said Bush.
Thursday night, Jan. 25, at an information session sponsored by the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA), Bush spoke with local business owners about lowering their risk for theft.
`Two-thirds of burglaries happen at businesses, because criminals have the ability, the desire, and the opportunity,` said Bush. `Your job is to reduce their opportunities and increase their risk of being caught.`
Among his suggestions were having a professional security system installed, leaving lights on inside the shop after closing, removing shrubbery that provides shadows for criminals to lurk, using deadbolt locks, keeping an inventory of all equipment, and engraving the business name on the cash register, VCR, or other costly machines.
`You don’t need bars on your windows ` this is the Village of Ballston Spa ` but you do need to be vigilant,` said Bush.
Several of the people attending the meeting said they are not as concerned about losing money as they are about overall safety, `We have Spanish classrooms and children in our place,` said Kim Anderson, owner of Mango Tree Imports in the Carousel Plaza. `I’d like to be kept updated on what happens in other businesses, so all of us can look out for each other.`
Of the more than 60 members of BSBPS, fewer than 20 showed up for the crime prevention workshop.
`Business owners haven’t shown a lot of concern,` said Ellen Mottola, executive administrative assistant of the BSBPA. `They’re operating in the theory that ignorance is bliss, but this is a wake-up call for them. The village isn’t a bastion of crime, but no place is untouched.`
Bush advises storeowners to leave everything untouched if they discover a break-in when they open for business in the morning. `We’re not CSI Miami, but we will take fingerprints, and we need an undisturbed crime scene,` said Bush.
Bush also said a spike in street drug sales has added to the prevalence of crime.
`Drug use isn’t just in New York City, Albany or Schenectady; there are street level drugs right here in the village,` said Bush. `People turn to crime to feed the drug habit. If you’re approached by a robber outside your business or home, hand your money over and then call the police. Don’t fight, comply.`
Bush said the village police are available to escort storeowners to banks to make their deposits before closing, and also to conduct a security survey to determine how burglars could gain access to their building.
`They can even push in an air conditioner and climb on in,` said Bush. `These are things people don’t think about; you have to see it through the eyes of the criminal.`
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