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Crime & Safety

Residential Burglaries in Sammamish Increase More Than 50 Percent From 2009 to 2010

Given the rise in increased burglaries, Sammamish police have responded with more patrols and increased community engagement. There is a residential safety forum on Tuesday.

Statistics in the ’s 2010 Annual Data Report show that residential burglaries in Sammamish increased by 52.8 percent last year, going from 53 burglaries in 2009 to 81 in 2010.

Some of that increase can be attributed to the city’s year-to-year growth, according to the department. Even allowing for growth, though, the rising numbers were a concern to the department.

“Any time we see a crime increase, it gets our attention,” Sammamish Police Chief Nate Elledge said.

King County Sheriff deputies who work for Sammamish police responded with increased patrols in key areas and a heightened emphasis on reducing opportunities for crime.

“We have a very proactive group of officers in the city,” Sgt. Jessica Sullivan said.

The department dealt with a high number of burglaries last summer stemming from garage doors that had been left open at night and are paying special attention this year to unsecured premises, something the department’s nightshift patrol officers encounter on a routine basis. 

Part of the problem is Sammamish’s reputation as a safe city, Elledge said. Many residents just don’t think to lock their cars at night or close their garages, leading to high numbers of and burglaries.

“We’ve been talking about this ever since I got here,” Elledge said.

Elledge added that the attitude of some residents creates opportunities for criminals. “We need to take away that opportunity,” he said.

Residents, Sullivan said, need to be proactive about crime prevention, not just by locking doors and securing property, but also by being observant and letting the police know if they see or hear about anything suspicious.

“I always tell people you are the eyes and ears of the city,” she said.

For 2011, the Sammamish Police Department is making an effort to reach out to residents and get them more involved in crime prevention. Earlier this year, the department hosted its first community forum on Internet safety. On Tuesday, the department will hold a second .

The upcoming forum will focus on crime prevention techniques, provide information on neighborhood watch groups and the National Night Out and give residents a chance to ask questions of the assembled experts and department representatives.

The forum will be held Tuesday from 7 to 10 p.m. at . Registration is encouraged because space is limited.

Editor's note: As of last year, Sammamish had 45,780 residents and 15,736 housing units, according to the Census Bureau.

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