Burglars strike again in one east Columbia neighborhood

Burglars struck again in one east Columbia neighborhood.

There have now been at least four daytime break-ins in the East Ridge Park neighborhood just in the last month.

After Thursday’s burglary, the landlord told residents he’ll be installing security systems in each of the homes.

Residents said they hope it will deter suspects, but just in case it doesn’t, many are taking their own precautions.

“We have our friends come over during the day to watch the house, “resident Cassie Dins said. “We even thought about buying a cheap car and parking it out front so it looked like someone was home.”

Dins was actually the victim of the first burglary on February 18.

“I saw the broken window, the amount of glass, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, oh my God!” she remembered. “Your eyes dart around to things that were valuable but they’re not there anymore.”

The thieves got away with money and electronics and even something more valuable — her and her boyfriend’s sense of safety.

“I feel safer at home at night now than I do when I’m at work during the day,” she said.

Dins said she wishes there was more she could do to protect herself, but found it’s hard to protect against a rock getting thrown into the window, which is how the burglars got in. So after going through their experience, the couple had some friendly warnings for their neighbors.

“Don’t leave things in view and shut your blinds,” Dins said.

“Write down serial numbers and take video of inside your home so you know what is where and can easily tell what was taken,” her boyfriend, Matt Brandt, said.

Dins said they tracked their stolen iPhone which showed up on Rice Road but were unable to recover it. She also said police dusted for fingerprints but haven’t made any arrests yet.