I-TEAM reveals peak days, times crimes most likely to occur

News4Jax spent weeks digging through crime data in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Crime happens all day long in the city of Jacksonville, but when does it peak and when does it wane? It's a question the News4Jax I-TEAM has been digging into over the past several weeks, mapping crime data that spells out how Jacksonville residents are being victimized and when.

The I-TEAM wanted to find out when you are most likely to become the victim of a crime -- whether it's a motor vehicle theft, burglary, aggravated assault or robbery. So, we looked at these kinds of crimes over a one-year period, along with the time of day they occurred.

Home burglaries

The I-TEAM found that 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Mondays is the prime time and day for home burglaries in Jacksonville. That's the time when many working families are leaving their homes to tackle another week at work. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's online crime-mapping tool, over a one-year period, 802 families were victimized on a Monday -- with more than 300 of those crimes happening between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.

"Waiting for me to go to work, then he would break into the house," said home burglary victim Cecil Tesmer.

Tesmer, who's legally blind in both eyes, subcontracts for the Florida Division of Blind Services -- servicing and maintaining vending machines with the help of a paid driver. Some of the money from the machines goes back to the division to help the visually impaired.Tesmer told police that his former employee, Craig Neel, preyed on his disability, breaking into his home 10 times over three months, stealing hundreds of dollars' worth of coins.

"I work awfully hard for everything I get, little money I get, and these vending machines don't make a whole lot of money," Tesmer said. "It keeps me going and keeps others and that's all I ask for. To have somebody go around stealing all my stuff, that's not a very good feeling."

Tesmer says he got a surveillance system and put cameras up. Police say Neel was eventually captured on those surveillance cameras, breaking into Tesmer's home on a Monday morning. That led to the discovery that Neel was allegedly stealing from Tesmer's vending machines as well.

"I got a tally now at almost $8,000," Tesmer said.

An I-TEAM study of home burglaries committed from June 1, 2015, through May 30, 2016, reveals that Thursday is the second highest day for home break-ins, with the peak time being between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Street robberies and carjackings

So when are you most likely to be the victim of a violent crime, like a street robbery or a carjacking? Friday is the worst day for these crimes, according to our I-TEAM investigation, but Sundays around 10 p.m. is the peak time for this kind of violence in Jacksonville. But according to JSO crime-mapping statistics, even on weekdays between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., and at also midnight, the chances of you being a victim of a robbery increase.

"He said these guys pulled up, and they jumped out and they had masks on their face. He said, 'They came to me on the passenger side with the gun,' and he tapped, and they punched him in the face (and said), 'Get out of the car,'" said Michael Yates, whose son was a victim of a carjacking.

Yates' 15-year-old son was one of three people carjacked within 48 hours by four teenagers, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. Police say the teens -- ages 14 to 16 -- led them on two separate car chases before wrecking the stolen cars and leaving their victims traumatized.

"I don't feel safe anywhere. I'm checking everything when I come home. I'm double checking my locks, my car, double-checking everything," Yates said.

Out of the 1,669 robberies reported within a one-year period in Jacksonville, statistics reveal 9 p.m. is the peak time for this kind of crime. It's a similar picture for motor vehicle thefts, which peak on Fridays and Saturdays, as Jerry Gray can attest.

"Where they found the car was near prostitutes. It was full of trash. They just trashed the car out. All kind of damage," said Gray, whose son's car was stolen and later recovered.

Gray says the person who stole his son's car hasn't been brought to justice. He says it's because police didn't have enough evidence. It's a crime that Gray says has changed his outlook on his personal safety.

"I don't go out no more; just don't do it," he told the I-TEAM.

News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith

The I-TEAM showed News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith our data and our findings. Smith says in most instances, criminals will wait for the prime opportunity before deciding to strike.

"When it comes to home burglaries, it makes sense that these crimes are occurring in the early-morning hours on weekdays. That's when people are at work. These are all crimes of opportunity," Smith said. "And when we're talking about aggravated batteries, these occur on Friday and Saturday, typically at night, sometimes domestic. And as far as street robberies and carjackings go, the criminal typically chooses a time when they have the greatest opportunity to escape."

Jacksonville Sheriff's officers say it's important for residents to stay as mindful as possible of their surroundings. Crimes can occur at any time of the day because criminals seize the opportunity that presents itself -- whether it be day or at night.

Smith, who was with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for 26 years, offers the following advice to help protect yourself from becoming a victim of crime:

Protect yourself against home burglaries

  • Get to know your nosy neighbor. Find someone you can trust and depend on in an emergency.
  • Do not leave a schedule of your times away from home on your answering machine.
  • Avoid Facebook posts with details about your vacation.
  • Ask for photo ID of all repair persons.
  • Never give personal information to telephone solicitors, door-to-door salesmen or internet inquiries.
  • Don't let strangers into your home or apartment to use your telephone.

READ: 5 mistakes homeowners make during the summer

Protect yourself against aggravated batteries

  • When walking, walk in the middle of the sidewalk -- facing oncoming traffic.
  • Be careful using ATMs at night. Approach the ATM in a car with your bright lights on and scan the area while pulling up.
  • Do not overload yourself with packages or groceries while in a parking lot. Seek assistance.
  • If you wear a purse, put the purse across your body and not just on your shoulder.

Protect yourself against car theft

  • Never leave your keys in the ignition.
  • Always park in well-lit, visible areas.
  • Check the area around your car before you enter it.
  • Avoid parking next to large trucks, pickup trucks or vans that can be easy to hide behind.
  • Place valuables in your trunk discreetly.
     

 


About the Authors:

Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.