Sandy car burglaries caught on surveillance video


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SANDY — Thieves stole from three cars and a garage in one neighborhood Wednesday. One of the victims caught them on surveillance video, which has sparked a discussion about the number of people using surveillance cameras to feel secure in their homes.

An SUV, a car and a truck lined Christian Duncan’s driveway Wednesday night.

“They run through here and then they hop in the SUV and then kind of throw everything around,” explained Duncan. “And then he gets out and I can see the garage door opener in his hand.”

Sandy police reported three young men, who looked like teenagers, burglarized three cars near 9700 South Granite Hills Dr. According to police, the men also entered a garage and stole hunting equipment. Investigators said one of the men was driving a car through the neighborhood as they were all looking for easy targets.

“Don’t make yourself an easy target,” said Sandy Police Capt. Justin Chapman. “Unfortunately, that's what happened the other night.”


Each of those three cases we had that night, each of the vehicles was left unlocked.

–Justin Chapman, Sandy police


Chapman said the men got away with valuables from residents, but police are concerned the thieves had access to homes after stealing garage door openers.

“Each of those three cases we had that night,” said Chapman, “each of the vehicles was left unlocked.”

Duncan and his wife have already disabled their garage door opener.

“She was pretty worried that somebody had our garage door opener and could potentially get into the garage at any point and time,” explained Duncan.

Four cameras cover Duncan’s home. He said he and his neighbors have usually felt pretty secure until Wednesday night’s burglary. And when there are that many cameras on a house, one wouldn’t expect thieves to come by and take their chances.

“I’ve reviewed the camera and couldn’t figure out if maybe that spooked them,” said Duncan. “Or they just ran out of time. I don’t know.”

Sandy car burglaries caught on surveillance video

While the thieves were not scared off by Duncan’s cameras, he said he’d still recommend them on homes.

“I’m kind of crazy about security,” said Duncan. “They (the cameras) have definitely come in handy.”

More people are turning to home-surveillance equipment to feel more secure.

“The average homeowner has four cameras,” said Thal Dixon, owner of Dixon Security Cameras. “Usually the most common that we put up is front door, front driveway, something on the sides or in the back.”

Dixon said he has 13 cameras keeping watch over his home. He said families are beginning to request up to eight cameras to feel more secure about what's happening outside and inside their homes.

"A trend that I’m seeing is that people are caring for the elderly in their home, things like that,” Dixon said. “The teenage cam — if they have kids sneaking out, or over a hot tub, swimming pool. If you think about it, peace of mind is a huge thing.”

At the end of the day, Dixon and even police said there’s only so much people can do to keep thieves from robbing you of your security.

“We would encourage everybody to bring in your valuables, lock your doors,” said Chapman. “If a burglar wants to come in there and take it (valuables), even if the door is locked, they may break into your car to get in there and get that item.”

And while police acknowledge that surveillance videos are helpful, experts like Dixon know technology has its limits.

“It’s not going to stop the professional thief,” said Dixon. “But it does stop a lot of crimes of opportunity.

If people have information about the car burglaries in Sandy or recognize the people in the surveillance video, they’re encouraged to call Sandy police at 801-799-3000.

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