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Lapeer County Sheriff's Department Lt. Jim McLain developed a county wide mapping system to pinpoint patterns of crooks breaking and entering into homes and businesses. The County Press is partnering with the sheriff's department and will print a modified version of the maps as a new feature in the Wednesday edition of the newspaper.

"The maps will track the areas they've been hitting," Lt. Jim McLain said. "They'll be used by law enforcement to identify crime areas."

Deputy Jennifer Byrd runs a report generating burglary crimes in the county from the previous week. McLain transfers that information onto a street map of each township, city and village in the city. The report will show the address, date, and the police department that took the complaint.

With crime on the rise handled by multiple policing jurisdictions, it sometimes becomes difficult to be aware of crime specifics handled by another agency. The breaking and entering blueprints are currently being shared with the Michigan State Police and are available to any agency that wants them.

The maps will also show the report number and each police officer can obtain a description of stolen items. That data will also help victims recover their property.

"When caught, many of the suspects have a hard time remembering where the house is," Lt. Gary Parks said. "They certainly don't remember the names of their victims."

The document is being made public as a service to the community.

"They run in streaks, and we see a pattern in areas," Parks said. "In October, we saw a pattern of suspects going into houses in broad daylight, stealing guns, safes, and jewelry."

The log will be updated weekly and readers will be warned when there's criminal activity in their neighborhood. It's the sheriff's department's goal to have none to print.

"Patrol deputies will be able to make their presence known," Parks said. "Most times crooks return to the same area. While they're hitting one home, they're checking out another one to target next time."

Weekly breaking and entering log:

FRIDAY

ARCADIA TWP—North Youngs Road, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

JAN. 30

HADLEY TWP—Baldwin Road, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

IMLAY TWP—South Summers Road/Newark Road, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

JAN. 28

ATTICA TWP—Larson Road, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

ELBA TWP—Davison Road, Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com