Criminals Take Advantage of Bad Weather

The rainy weather creates a "perfect storm" for a type of crime thats on the rise throughout the Arklatex. A Caddo parish constable says thieves are striking during downpours and your home might be next. Nbc 6 reporter Karen Hopkins, visited a neighborhood and found out how these crooks slip through the cracks. "I didnt see nothing, just found out now that you told me," Ronnie Garrison said. We told him about a Caddo parish sheriff report. Someone broke into his neighbor’s house during Monday’s storm. “Im always watching; I’m retired army." But try spotting a crook through this down pour. Its loud, blinding. Caddo constable Eric Hatfield says burglars take advantage of it. Hatfield says Shreveport police and Caddo detectives have all noticed this storm stealing trend. “Stormy weather diverts the attention of citizens who would normally notice but not in storms." Wet weather also ties up police, with weather related crashes. That can hurt response time for burglary calls. “Some criminals realize officers are tied up on home alarms, wrecks during rainy and bad weather." Hatfield says any homeowner should watch out. This year burglary reports are pouring in throughout the Arklatex. Shreveport police up 7 percent Bossier city grew 13 percent. Texarkana, Texas rose 35 percent.