Westside Bend car break-ins prompt alert

Some people on the Westside of Bend are noticing an increase in burglaries from parked cars.

The Athletic Club of Bend recently sent out a notice to members that read:

“There have apparently been a number of automobile break-ins in the last week on the west side of Bend. West side neighborhoods and businesses alike have experienced theft from vehicles in the evening as well as during the day. As a reminder, do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Leave them at home.”

The club declined to speak on camera, but a representative did say they’re bringing in extra security measures.

The owner of a security company based in Bend said Tuesday he’s seen an increased number of calls for security cameras, but also said it’s not the only thing needed to keep a home or business safe.

“Our main objective is to protect the assets, so we’re looking to make sure that if somebody’s trying to get into a house or get into a business, that we’re getting them to go away,” Atlas Security owner Graham Hausler said. “That’s No. 1. After that, it’s recording video, perhaps to be able to give to the police or provide more information from that event.”

With that said, there are some advancements in the security sector that will make monitoring homes and businesses easier.

“Now, instead of just having video recorded on a DVR, it’s actually going to be sent to that individual in real time,” Hausler said. “So you can actually look at the video as it’s happening, or close to as it’s happening, instead of having to go back and review all that data after the fact.”

Between businesses and homeowners, Hausler said both call about security cameras at about the same rates.

“It’s definitely both,” he said. “When we look at the calls that come in, they are across the board: big business, small business, residential, it doesn’t make a difference. They’re all over the place.”