Protect your property from burglaries. Tips from Lincoln County Undersheriff Mike Wood

by Dianne L Stallings, Ruidoso News Published 2:39 p.m. MT April 8, 2019 |

More arrests may follow connected to those fencing the stolen items

Three persons were arrested by the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department in Connection to a Spree of Residential Burgalries Occurring in Lincoln County, Undersheriff Mike Wood said Monday

A combined 47 charges were leveled against three men, including the latest batch in March and some previous charges in October and December.

The break-ins occurred in various areas of Lincoln County and may have been perpetrated months earlier to be discovered by owners of vacation homes when they returned with the end of winter, he said.

"It would be difficult to pinpoint specific areas, they happened throughout Lincoln County," Wood said.

"We know since the beginning of the year, we have seen a spike, which seems like a pretty normal trend this time of year. The weather starts warming up, construction starts taking place, and with the vacation homes  we have here they may have occurred a month or two prior and folks are just now finding they were burglarized."

“We here at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office have been working tirelessly to stop these burglaries that have been happening recently.”

Undersheriff Mike Wood

The burglary ring goes beyond the individuals who actually are doing the burglaries, he said.

"We've started to expand our investigation to include those individuals who might be assisting them, fencing this property, buying this property knowing it was stolen," Wood said. "So we not only have the individuals who perpetrated the crimes, but individuals who create a market for the property."

More: SafeHome.org study ranks New Mexico tops in break-in crime

He's confident that a drug nexus is involved in the cases, Wood said."These guys have been busy," he said of the three arrested. "Just like drugs, until you can temper down the demand, you will have a supply. We don't have any reason to believe everything taken is being fenced in town, we believe some must be leaving. But if it is going on here, were going to work on stopping it, for sure."

Protect your home and property

"We here at the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office have been working tirelessly to stop these burglaries that have been happening recently," Wood said  "The arrests of numerous suspects resulted in the recovery of a great deal of stolen property.

"Unfortunately, we cannot be everywhere at once and we cannot completely stop burglaries from happening no matter how much we patrol or how many bad guys we put in jail. However, there are some things you can do in order to protect yourself and your property."

Wood offered suggestions to prevent theft and to help law enforcement in recovering stolen or lost property.

1. Mark anything of value with a unique mark to you. Keep all documents for valued items to show purchase values. Take pictures of all firearms and their serial numbers.
2. Set up cameras. There are many models available to purchase, all ranging in price.
3. Security systems are a great investment and a great deterrent for burglaries.
4. Signage also is important. Properly posted with "No Trespassing” signs may allow law enforcement to file an additional charge of criminal trespass.
5. Ensure all windows, sliding glass doors and entry doors are locked and secured. Hide-a-keys will be found, so leave a key with a trusted neighbor or friend.
6. Wait to post pictures of your vacation on social media until after you return home.  Posting a picture of yourself on a beach will let everybody know that nobody is at your house.