The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG - Six residential burglaries have been reported in the Waits- burg area since the end of September and Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office officials say they're con- cerned because in some of the burglaries firearms have been stolen.

The first burglary was reported on Sept. 23 on Bolles Road. Since that time, five others have been reported, about one each week, until the most recent burglary on Oct. 27 on Whetstone Road.

Undersheriff Edward Freyer with the sheriff's of- fice said a rise in residential burglaries has been occur- ring in the tri-county area recently.

"It is a trend we have noticed," Freyer said. "We are tracking it very closely."

He added the office is developing suspects and tracking stolen property.

The items stolen from the homes in the Waitsburg area have been "typical," Freyer said. Items reported stolen include a generator, fishing equipment, hunt- ing equipment, photos, saddles, tack, electronics, power tools, chainsaws and jewelry.

One victim of a recent burglary in Waitsburg who did not want to be identified said items stolen included silverware, guns, silver candlesticks and heirloom jewelry.

Freyer said a number of firearms have been stolen in the burglaries and that's what the sheriff's office is very "worried about."

He has been tracking the reports of recent burglaries in the nearest counties as well and he said there has been an increase in bur- glaries in Waitsburg, Wal- la Walla and throughout Southeastern Washington.

"It seems to be a spike," Freyer said. "It's a very no- ticeable increase."

Dian McClurg, the pub- lic information officer for the Columbia County Sher- iff's Office, said Sher- iff Walt Hessler reports a slight increase in residential burglaries in Columbia County, but said the sheriff offered no other comment at this time.

Most of the crimes appear to be based on oppor- tunity, meaning burglars are breaking into homes while victims are at work, at church or on vacation, he said.

To protect your home against potential bur- glaries, Freyer recom- mended making sure lighting around your home is bright, securing your home with locks and communicating with neighbors when you will be away.

Also, it helps to urge neighbors to call 9-1-1 when they see something suspicious, like a light on in your home when you are on vacation or a suspicious vehicle.

He added citizens on watch have been very help- ful in preventing crimes. The sheriff's office staff can only do so much with its current resources.

"We just can't be out there 24/7 at every location in the county," he added.