Spokane police launch outreach program to combat rising property crime near Gonzaga

SPOKANE, Wash. — Property crime in the Logan neighborhood near Gonzaga University is on the rise, with the Spokane Police Department reporting 356 property crime offenses in the area over the last few months.

The crimes range from breaking and entering to car prowling to stealing packages off front porches, and that number is increasing according to SPD.

“A lot of our property crimes, when they spike, they’re generally in smaller locations, 2 to 3 block radius. And it’s usually crimes of opportunity,” said Captain Shawn Kendall of the Spokane Police Department.

To combat this trend, a team of volunteer cadets has been going door-to-door in areas that have been hit by property crime, teaching neighbors how not to be an easy target.

“Talk to the community, leave, fliers that describe some of the crime prevention techniques that will impact, some of the property crime scene in their area,” Kendall said.

Some of the tips are obvious — don’t leave valuables outside and lock your doors. But other suggestions are more about encouraging a criminal to walk right by your house.

SPD says it is important to make sure homes are visible from the street, especially at night. The department recommends taking care of landscaping so homes aren’t hidden behind trees or bushes. Motion activated lights, security cameras, or even just a sign that says you have a security system in place would deter someone from breaking into your home.

“Most of our property predators want to, they don’t want to be noticed, and if we can impact that with landscaping improvements, lighting, motion, lighting, security cameras,” Kendall said. “Obviously some of those things start cost some money, but a lot of this you can just implement, it’s really just the time you devote to it.”

SPD says some of the break-ins are in student housing that are left unlocked or homes that are empty. Since the department says it doesn’t have enough resources or patrol officers to make an impact in the neighborhood, it hopes this cadet program helps prevent crime from happening in the first place.

SPD also encourages those who live in the area to get to know their neighbors, join the Nextdoor app and stay up to date on what’s happening around you. The department says if you see anything suspicious to call Crime Check.