(La Porte County, IN) - Burglaries reported to the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office are down considerably.  The number went from 133 in 2019 to 95 last year.

Since 2018, burglaries are down 50 percent, according to statistics provided by the sheriff’s office.  Sheriff John Boyd believes the number of video security systems on homes and businesses nowadays is one of the reasons. 

He feels burglars are also discouraged by advancements in DNA testing.  Just touching something without gloves on can leave a DNA sample from the moisture on a burglary suspect’s hands.  “Whether it be a door knob or, perhaps, a window sill if someone was coming through a window or even if it was the cable on the back of a TV when they unscrew the cable if they’re taking the TV or some type of electrical device we can touch DNA that and see if we can get a sample from that,” he said.

Boyd said more people staying home last year because of COVID-19 also could have been a factor in the drop in burglaries last year.