Crime & Safety

Recent Dixon Burglary Victims Explain Their Loss, Dixon Police Chief Gives Safeguard Advice

A string of Dixon homes were broken into early Tuesday afternoon, one family tells Patch what it's like to walk into your home and realize you've become a victim.

“You feel completely violated, vulnerable,” explained a recent Dixon break-in victim, “they took the things that meant the most, and left all that was replaceable.”

The Patwin Park neighborhood residents, who wished to be kept anonymous, were one of the latest to have their home ransacked in town by thieves.

They explained, “Our house was only unoccupied for about a two hour window, I immediately noticed that our back window was completely broken out, and the sliding glass doors was slightly open.”

Although the burglars made it through the back window, there were clear indications they had made efforts to get into the garage door and side doors as well.

According to the family, all of the dresser drawers in the bedrooms had been opened and pillaged through, and jewelry boxes were dumped everywhere, with a mix of gold, silver and even costume jewelry taken.

“They took my class ring, watch engraved by my father, my wedding ring and baby jewelry,” the victim told Patch, “Aside from taking our iPad, they left several things I would assume a robber might take, they really only took things that had sentimental value to us.”

"Here's the odd thing," they laughed, "they shut the broken window after they climbed in; and when they left, they shut the sliding glass door so our little dog didn’t get out, they were such polite burglars."

The family now has to pay the $1000 insurance deductible for repairs, and are not sure if the jewelry will be covered under normal coverage.

Dixon Police Chief Jon Cox says break-ins are on the rise everywhere, not just Dixon, explaining, “Unfortunately, these type of break-ins are difficult to prevent entirely, but there are a few things to be alert too. Dixon does not distribute many solicitor permits, and although not all of them are looking to break-in, many burglars use it as a way to case the house and see who is home.”

He added that, although costly, he has never seen a home with a working alarm system burglarized, stating that the audible alarms typically scare would be intruders away; however, he feels that the best deterrent is having a good neighborhood watch and looking out for each other.


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