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Burglars Cutting Power To Homes In Murrieta Before Breaking In
CBSLA.com) ^ | January 21, 2013 12:00 PM | Tom Reopelle

Posted on 01/21/2013 3:30:09 PM PST by BenLurkin

MURRIETA [California] (CBSLA.com) — Police are warning residents Monday suspects are using a new technique to determine whether Murrieta homes are occupied before ransacking the properties.

KNX 1070′s Tom Reopelle reports police are warning residents to stay alert and keep valuables secured.

The burglars are believed to be targeting homes, tripping circuit breakers and then breaking in to steal jewelry and unsecured firearms, Murrieta Police Sgt. Don Weller said.

“The bad guys will go out and turn the power off to the residence, and they’ll stand outside waiting to see if there’s any response from inside, and if there isn’t a response, they’ll make their way into the house,” said Weller.

The technique was reported three times in the span of four hours, Weller said. Of those three, only one of those incidents was a confirmed burglary where property was taken. Police were called to investigate the second incident, only to find the suspects had fled the scene.

Weller said neighbors can be of particular help in preventing these types of burglaries.

“Always be aware of your surroundings, and always pay attention to what’s going on outside the street in front of your house, and especially your neighbor’s house,” he said.

Anyone with information regarding the burglaries is asked to contact the police at (951) 696-3615.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: burglary; crime
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1 posted on 01/21/2013 3:30:14 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin
KNX 1070′s Tom Reopelle reports police are warning residents to stay alert and keep valuables secured.

And flee if the power goes out?
2 posted on 01/21/2013 3:37:40 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: BenLurkin

A good alarm system is battery powered.


3 posted on 01/21/2013 3:38:11 PM PST by tommix2 (,)
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To: BenLurkin

>>Weller said neighbors can be of particular help in preventing these types of burglaries.

Yes, if the power goes out, peek out your windows to see if there’s anyone casing the house. If so, wait for them to break in and then ventilate them.


4 posted on 01/21/2013 3:40:12 PM PST by MarineBrat (Better dead than red!)
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To: tommix2

Or a UPS, thanks to bammy’s energy policies my neighbor hood has brownout, now twhen my power goes out and my UPS is squealing I will get my gun, especially at night...


5 posted on 01/21/2013 3:43:35 PM PST by GraceG
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To: BenLurkin

Is is common in CA to have circuit breakers outside? In the northeast that is all inside.


6 posted on 01/21/2013 3:49:04 PM PST by matt04
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To: tommix2

A tip I got the other day;
Take your spare key fob into your bedroom. If you hear someone foolin’ around, press the red button, and set off your car alarm. Let your neighbors know about this tactic, so they’ll call the fuzz. Good for a medical emergency too.


7 posted on 01/21/2013 3:49:52 PM PST by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ( Ya can't pick up a turd by the clean end!)
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To: BenLurkin
"...breaking in to steal jewelry and unsecured firearms,..."

Had to work in a gun angle somewhere.

Impeach the kenyan or secession.


8 posted on 01/21/2013 3:55:28 PM PST by ex91B10 (We've tried the Soap Box,the Ballot Box and the Jury Box; ONE BOX LEFT!)
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To: BenLurkin

My tactical lights and laser sights run on batteries.


9 posted on 01/21/2013 3:56:41 PM PST by CrazyIvan (Obama's birth certificate was found stapled to Soros's receipt.)
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To: matt04

I have both here. The box outside has a main, main for the house, and a main dedicated for the pump.


10 posted on 01/21/2013 3:56:48 PM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

I think it’s a great service to let folks know. Power goes out-—grab your modern sporting rifle and 1,000 lumen light.


11 posted on 01/21/2013 4:01:12 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: BenLurkin

Our alarm system has a battery backup and we get a warning if either the power goes out or the phone lines die to our cell phones.

Sad that we have to think of every possible way a criminal could harm us


12 posted on 01/21/2013 4:01:30 PM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: tommix2

My home was broken into just last month. He cut every electrical device off the house, opened the circuit breaker box and cut all the power. Then opened the window easily in my old house.

The burglar alarm went off and he ran, jumping over the fence. He fell and dropped a large knife in the front yard My neighbor saw his exit and I was home in 10 minutes.

The LAPD arrived about 15 hours later.


13 posted on 01/21/2013 4:06:21 PM PST by BunnySlippers (I LOVE BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: BenLurkin

That’s why, for home defense, a tactical light on a firearm is of greater value than a laser.


14 posted on 01/21/2013 4:07:47 PM PST by 353FMG ( I refuse to specify whether I am serious or sarcastic -- I respect FReepers too much.)
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To: matt04

Yes it is. A stupid practice, which is why CA does it.


15 posted on 01/21/2013 4:08:16 PM PST by Professional Engineer (So long and thanks for all the lutefisk.)
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To: BenLurkin

Reason to own a gun. When seconds count the police are only minutes away.


16 posted on 01/21/2013 4:12:10 PM PST by csmusaret (I will give Obama credit for one thing- he is living proof that familiarity breeds contempt.)
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To: tommix2
A good alarm system is battery powered.

An even better alarm system is pump action.

17 posted on 01/21/2013 4:23:01 PM PST by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: cripplecreek

Lock the outside main cover! Hope it’s never necessary, but emergency workers can get it open, and make a lot of noise doing so. I don’t imagine most thieves would pull an electric meter to kill power.


18 posted on 01/21/2013 4:37:36 PM PST by jughandle
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To: Professional Engineer

A quick Google search indicates it is more common in warm climates or some code to allow the FD to shout off a house quickly. Around here if their is a large structure fire they usually have the POCO shout down the area so they can safely maneuver ladders, equipment, water, etc. around primary lines or service drops.


19 posted on 01/21/2013 4:41:55 PM PST by matt04
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To: BenLurkin

I don’t think they’d chance my 4 dogs to get to my breaker box.


20 posted on 01/21/2013 5:08:35 PM PST by Elderberry
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