Law Enforcement on Alert

As people begin celebrating the holidays, law enforcement is keeping an eye on the holiday hazards. Officers say almost every year they see a spike in crime, as well as drinking and driving around the holidays. But they have a plan to keep the incidents minimal this year.Boone County sheriff’s officials tell ABC 17 News they want people to see they’re still out working. Officers say their biggest concern at this point is burglaries. In Columbia, police have already seen a handful of break-ins. Officers say it’s the perfect time for people wanting to steal from homes.The Boone County Sheriff’s Department says they know there will be burglaries in the next week. But they’re doing all they can to keep those numbers down.”We have deputies out there checking subdivisions, checking rural areas, densely populated areas we’re doing a lot of Watch in Passings on people’s homes,” Boone County Sheriff Detective Tom O’Sullivan explains.O’Sullivan tells us the best thing people can do is to make their homes look like they’re still occupied. We’ve told you in years past, thieves can look inside to see new gifts by the tree. Even the trash by the curb can tip them off to what gifts may be inside.Sheriff’s officials tell me burglars aren’t just looking inside homes, but inside your car. Cops believe by making sure nothing of value can be seen from outside the car or the home, criminals won’t feel the need to waste their time and break in.”Thieves know this time of the year people have more items of value in their homes and in their cars, so it’s something we deal with every year,” O’Sullivan says.But officers aren’t just focusing on those leaving town. Sheriff’s officials tell us they know there will be many parties with alcohol and those people will be out on the roads. They say there is a DWI unit that will be out in full force just looking for drunk drivers.