The birds are chirping, the grass is growing, and the local crooks are waking up from hibernation. Yes, folks, spring has officially arrived in Clarksburg, and with it comes the predictable rise in property crimes.
Every year, just as soon as folks start leaving windows open and garage doors unlocked “just for a minute,” the opportunists come crawling out like ants at a picnic. And around here, we know exactly who we’re talking about: the BACKPACKERS.
That’s our local catch-all name for the usual suspects — the transients, the drifters, and the small-time criminals with a backpack full of bolt cutters and bad ideas. They are opportunistic wanders out on foot in the neighborhoods or on a kids bike (usually one that doesn’t belong to them), eyeing your property like it’s part of a free yard sale.
One of the worst springtime trends Clarksburg has seen year after year is the steady disappearance of children’s bicycles. The backpackers aren’t shy about strolling right into a front yard, grabbing the first bike they see, and pedaling off like they just struck gold. They aren’t too proud to ride a child’s bike down Milford Street, past stunned neighbors, so long as it gets them from point A to point B. Pink, sparkly, covered in stickers — doesn’t matter. If it’s got wheels, it’s as good as gone if left unsecured. The same goes for mowers, weed eaters, blowers, chain saws, and anything else that is unsecured and portable.
The good news? There are plenty of ways to make sure you don’t end up on the losing side of Clarksburg’s annual spring crime spree.
Lock it up — Everything. Your cars, your sheds, your garages, your kids’ bikes, even that wheelbarrow you think no one would ever steal. Around here, nothing is safe if it isn’t locked.
Light it up — Install motion lights, keep porch lights on, and don’t be afraid to let the backyard glow. These folks aren’t exactly eager to work under the spotlight.
Install cameras — No, it’s not overkill. You don’t need to build Fort Knox, but a few cameras can go a long way in persuading a backpacker to keep walking. Modern systems are cheap, easy to set up, and worth every penny. Even fake cameras, as long as they look convincing, can give some would-be thieves second thoughts. And if they don’t? Congratulations, you’ve got footage for the police — or for the whole town if you post it online.
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Use Owner Applied Numbers (OANs) — This is the part that usually gets ignored until it’s too late. An OAN is just a unique identifier you mark on your valuables. Engrave it, paint it, tattoo it — whatever works, but get it on there. A driver’s license number, a birthday combo, initials — anything that’s unique and yours. Here’s the part most folks don’t know: if you can’t provide a unique identifying number, the police usually can’t even enter your stolen property into their database. Now things like cars and guns have a unique VIN or serial number. None of the things I named previously have that! That means if your kid’s bike or your leaf blower shows up at the pawn shop or in the back of a patrol car, there’s a good chance it’ll never make its way back. Without that number, it’s just another “black bike” or “red chainsaw” among hundreds.
Take it from the police, the neighborhood watch, and anyone who’s ever had to buy back their own stolen property at a yard sale — mark your stuff.
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So as you get ready to enjoy the spring weather, remember — Clarksburg’s not just blooming with flowers. The backpackers are out in full force too. Don’t make it easy for them. Lock it, light it, mark it, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll make it through the season without filing a police report.
