Rash of home break-ins leave neighbors worried

Crime Analyst offers advice to neighbors living in fear

ARLINGTON, Fla. – When Channel 4 first started looking into the rash of break-ins in Arlington, viewers responded, and we learned there was more crime in that area than first reported.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office crime map of Arlington showed 32 break-ins reported in a section of North Arlington in the past month. Some of those happened in broad daylight.

Channel 4 Crime Analyst Ken Jefferson joined us on a visit to Arlington to find out the issues in these neighborhoods. One of the first homes we walked up on had open blinds. Jefferson said leaving the blinds open makes a home a target.

"And decide if we were thieves to come back and get what we want," said Jefferson.

One neighbor living in the area, Ashley Maxfield, told Channel 4 she had tried to talk to who she thought was her neighborhood watch captain about the problems in the area, but that person claimed they weren't in charge or neighborhood watch.

Walking through the neighborhood, Jefferson pointed out a few mistakes homeowners in the area were making, like keeping the windows open.

"Sometimes we sleep with the windows open," said Jefferson. "Sometimes people have propensity and forget they have their windows open and because blinds are down and thieves go right in," said Jefferson.

Jefferson offered to help Arlington residents refine their community watch program, something he said would be a huge difference in the number of crimes.

"What you can do is contact the Sheriff's office community affairs department. Let them know where you live and they'll let you know if it's still active," said Jefferson.