Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green says the number of burglaries have dropped-off in the community, since the Police Department last week issued a warning to residents of the City to lock the doors on their homes and vehicles, following a couple of residential burglaries which occurred in the City.

Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green

Green said the thieves were apparently targeting electronic equipment, like computers and audio components, but they’ve gotten wise to the facts the public is being more observant. He says his officers have also been conducting surveillance, and since the news release on August 30^th, the activity has slowed. The “rash” of burglaries he says, is not currently continuing.

Green says they have some leads, but nothing has panned out just yet. He says residents need to remain vigilant though, in their awareness of strange activity going on in their neighborhood, and not be lulled into a false sense of security just because the incidents have seemingly stopped. He says most of the burglaries were residential, and there wasn’t any particular pattern.

Green says while some people may think the thieves are targeting primarily the residences of business owners while they are away from home, they’re not the only ones to have been hit. He says the thieves were hitting homes during the lunch hour, when there is a lesser opportunity people will be around.

The Chief reminds residents that if you should happen to come home and find it has been broken into, immediately exit the residence and call police. Entering the home and tampering with touched objects can result in possible lost evidence, and, there is a chance the suspect or suspects may still be in the residence.

Police in Clarinda say they’re investigating a theft and an incident of vandalism. Chief Keith Brothers says on Tuesday, September 4^th, a woman reported that a clutch purse had been stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at her residence in the 200 block of west Logan Street. The theft occurred sometime between 10:0 0 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The purse was later located at the Alco Discount Center in Clarinda. The woman said $30.00 cash had been taken from the purse.

And, on Thursday, September 6^th, a woman in Clarinda reported that her 1971 Ford Mustang had been vandalized while the vehicle was parked at her residence located in the 500 block of south 13^th Street. The paint on the vehicle had been damaged with a sharp object, the driver’s side exterior rear-view mirror had been pulled off, the tires punctured and the gas cap broken. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.00. Both incidents remain under investigation.

The Walnut City Council, Thursday evening, passed a Resolution of Support for the Continuation of Education in Walnut. City Clerk Terry Abell told KJAN News the Council received a report about the economic impact on the community, if it should lose its school, which has faced declining enrollment, and the possibility of consolidation with another district. She said a group of concerned citizens said City leaders need to be aware of the potential impact that such a move could have. On a related note, Terry says a spaghetti supper will be held one-week from this Saturday in Walnut, along with discussion about the future of the school district. She says the free spaghetti supper will be held in the old high school gym beginning at 5:30-p.m. Sept, 15^th, followed by an informational meeting at 6-p.m.

In other business, the Walnut City Council, Thursday, heard a presentation from brothers Shea Campbell and Taylor Campbell, with regard to their proposed Eagle Scout City Park beautification projects. She says Shea wants to paint the buildings at the Walnut Park, while Taylor wants to have the scouts scrape and paint about 60 fire hydrants.

The Walnut City Council also passed an ordinance that will allow the use of golf carts on City streets, and they approved the appointment of Tim Branan, Lois Brix, Lesley Krummel, Betty Roberts, and Denise Sandbothe, to the Community Development Committee.

(9-a.m. News)