"We used to never lock our doors, we do now and anyone we talk to we advise the same" said Larry Grundmann the president of the Kelly Ridge Home Owners Association. He's concerned about the recent influx of burglaries in his area. "The nature is more insidious, with break-ins instead of thefts from gas tanks and tires."
According to residents the thefts started out small, with thieves stealing gas from cars or lawn furniture out of front yards, but recently the problem has become much worse. According to Detective Patrick Martin of the Butte County Sheriffs department " we've had a string of burglaries...between 5 and 10 in the Kelly Ridge area of Oroville and East Foothill areas of Oroville."
Those burglaries often occur when someone is in their own residence, for Grundmann the problem hits close to home...his neighbors house was recently broken in to. "they actually went into her home, into her dining room, stole her purse while she was sleeping a room away...we think it's dangerous because if she had woken up during that period there's no telling what would have happened."
The elevation of serious crimes in the area has local residents banding together with the Butte County Sheriffs Department to fight the problem. Now Grundmann keeps close contact with the Sheriffs Department and has made it his mission to make sure neighbors keep their eyes open. According to Detective Martin it's been paying off. "we did arrest one juvenile about a week and a half ago who admitted to four of the burglaries." Detective Martin also told Action News since the arrest of the minor no new burglaries have been reported.
