Vehicle Burglaries on the Rise - Especially Around Ogden Valley

From a Facebook post by the Weber County Sheriff's Office

Vehicle burglaries are a serious problem in Weber County. To put matters into prospective, there were 2,896 cases of larceny from a motor vehicle reported last calendar year in all Weber County Jurisdictions. Unincorporated Weber County (not cities) accounted for 59 of these. This year, we have had 47 cases to date and we’re barely past the ½ way point. The same time period last year saw 39 cases, which adds up to a 20% increase.

Vehicle burglary comes in two main flavors. Most vehicle burglaries are night time residential thefts where no force is employed. These are referred to as “car hopping” by the juveniles who are the primary offenders. The victims mistakenly believe their possessions are safe in their unlocked car while it’s parked in front of their home. The thieves often work in groups, walking down both sides of a residential street and checking for unlocked car doors. If they find one, they look for money, small electronics, CDs, and financial documents like checks and credit cards. The thieves can drive to a neighborhood, or simply walk around the one they live in. This Spring, the western part of Weber County suffered a large number of vehicle burglaries by what appeared to be two rings of young adults. They would identify a likely target and one of them would run up and check the doors while the others remained in the getaway vehicle. Detectives eventually identified the suspects involved and some have been charged.

The second type of vehicle burglary has been a problem at Weber County recreation areas for years, including the Pineview beaches and mountain trailheads. There have been 25 vehicle break-ins in Ogden Canyon and the Ogden Valley that have been reported since June first, all in areas with free parking. In this scenario, the thieves arrive by vehicle. After cruising a parking area to make sure there are no witnesses, a thief will get out, look in the vehicle for purses or electronics, and break a window to get them. There have been a number of cases over the years where the thieves were in such a hurry windows were broken on unlocked vehicles. These thieves often target financial cards and immediately proceed to gas stations or stores where they can use them before the theft is discovered. A single theft involving a computer, phone, and wallet or purse can result in well over a thousand dollars in losses and property damage. The time on scene for this type of theft can be less than one minute if only one vehicle is targeted.

Vehicle burglary continues to be a problem because it’s an easy crime to commit and hard to solve. While serial vehicle burglars usually get caught in the long run, they may get away with dozens of thefts before that happens. When they’re prosecuted it’s rarely for felony charges, unless they’re caught using stolen checks or credit cards. Regardless, they are only charged for what the police can prove they did. This amounts to the tip of the ice burg for professional thieves. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office, US Forest Service, and Ogden City Police are actively pursuing new ways of identifying and catching vehicle burglars and we’ve had some success, however people can take a few simple steps to significantly reduce the chance they will become a victim.

• NEVER leave valuable items in your car where they can be seen. Over the years law enforcement has taken reports for things like high end jewelry, large sums of cash, firearms, and laptop computers left in vehicles for no particularly good reason. When parking overnight, remove valuable items that don’t need to be left in your car. Items that you may normally use in your car, like GPS units and iPods, should be locked in your console or trunk if you’re not going remove them. Just remember, if it’s there it can be stolen.

• Don’t take valuable property you don’t need with you to the lake or hiking trail. If you aren’t going to be using it that day, it doesn’t need to leave your house. Get an appropriate backpack or carry bag for your phone and wallet and don’t leave them in your car. If you forget and bring something you’re going to leave in your car, lock it in your trunk and disable the remote trunk access. Even an empty purse could get your window smashed.

• Go through your glove box and remove old mail, checks, your vehicle Title (it should be stored someplace safe), and other items that don’t need to be in your car.

• Lock your doors. I’ve talked to people that have old cars who routinely leave them unlocked on the grounds that they don’t leave anything valuable, and they’d rather not have a broken window. If the only thing in your car is lint this may work but otherwise you’re better off helping people stay honest.

• When you’re walking away from your car turn around and look at it from the point of view of the thief. You want your car to scream, “There is nothing valuable here to steal!” The passenger compartment should look like a rental car waiting to be sent out.

• Watch for and report suspicious individuals. Juveniles who appear to be wandering from driveway to driveway late at night should be reported to the police. Most jurisdictions have nighttime curfews for juveniles. If you’re at a trailhead and you observe an older vehicle with two or more occupants, who drive in and then leave without parking, write down the license plate and pass it along to your local police department. If you see an individual breaking into a car call 911 and try to get the license plate of the vehicle they arrived/departed in. Remember, the police need good information to work with to solve crimes. What you shouldn’t do is turn yourself from a witness in a property crime into a victim of a person crime. If you force a bad guy to go through you to get away there’s a good chance he’ll try.

• Last, but not least, take advantage of all those programs out there that let you do a home inventory on your phone, computer, or iPad. Get the serial numbers and model numbers recorded so that if you do get ripped off there is some hope of getting your stuff back. Without that, there is virtually no chance you’ll see your stolen property again.

Burglar steals snowmobiling items from Club Rec in Eden

The Standard reported yesterday:

EDEN — The Weber County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of about $2,000 in snowmobile clothing in a business burglary near Eden.

Club Rec, in the Monte Cristo snowmobile park, was apparently burglarized sometime between March 22 and March 24, said Weber County Sheriff’s Lt. Mark Lowther. The burglar used forced entry to get into the business.

No arrests have been made.

The thief took several pairs of bib pants, parkas, coats and a pair of snowmobile handle bars.

Similar items were recently advertised for sale on KSL.com, but investigators have not confirmed the clothing came from Club Rec.

More Ogden Canyon Frustrations - Ogden City Council Meeting Tonight

Guest Post by Kathy Peterson promoted from Facebook

Hi everyone-

Rich and I just came up the canyon on this Friday evening Feb. 2 at 5:30 pm and the traffic going down the canyon was backed up all the way to the Oaks. There was no lead car and there was no flagman. 

What are we supposed to do about getting up and down the canyon in a timely manner? Should we call the Ogden Police as this is a problem caused by Ogden city? We certainly shouldn't (as taxpayers of Weber County) have to pay the sheriff to come and take care of the problem. What is this doing to our ski industry when tourists have to try to maneuver this mess. 

And what about the lost business for those businesses in the canyon like the Oaks, Alaska Inn and Gray Cliff? The curfew on the week nights is ridiculous-8pm, really? And on the weekend, if you go to the early movie, you still can't make it to the canyon before the supposed closure at 10pm. The times should be 10pm on weeknights and 12 am on the weekends. Half the time there is no evidence of work being done overnight anyway, especially on the weekend.  Does the contractor close the canyon just so they don't have to pay someone to monitor the traffic overnight? 

I think we citizens of Ogden Valley deserve more courtesy and accommodation for our inconvenience. I for one will be at the Ogden City Council meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 6 pm to ask these questions of the city council. Are they going to compensate the canyon businesses for lost revenue due to this project that benefits the citizens of Ogden only? And what about the dangers imposed to us when the canyon is closed and the roads are icy and snow-covered and we are forced to risk our lives to negotiate the North Ogden Divide or go all the way around to Trapper's Loop? 

During last week's storm, Rich had to negotiate the Divide where even in 4-wheel drive, he was slipping and sliding around every corner and trying to negotiate around cars that were at a standstill while he went to get help. Please join me at the City Council Meeting if you are ready to confront this situation and ask for some relief from those who have instigated this issue. 

Thanks, Kathy Peterson."

Ogden Valley Residents Urged To Wave Flags In Honor of Officer Jared Francom

It's been a tough week for our neighbors in Ogden in the wake of the tragic shooting last week.  The impact has spread well beyond the city's borders to the rest of Weber County, the State of Utah and across America.  Our friends at the Weber County Forum have done a masterful job (as always) of reporting on all aspects of the case, so we urge you to snoop around and get up to date by clicking below:

Ogden Shootings Story Update: The Latest From the Northern Utah Print Media

Today marks the funeral and memorial service for Officer Jared Francom and Ogden Valley residents have been asked to help honor Officer Francom by waving flags during the funeral procession.  The flag waving has been organized, and as we understand it, Ogden Valley-ites are asked to line Harrison Boulevard along the route between the Dee Events Center (about 4400 Harrison Blvd.) and 30th Street.  Bring flags if you have them.  The Trapper Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America will also be handing out miniature flags at various locations along the route.

The funeral procession is expected to begin at about 12:30 PM and will run North on Harrison to 30th Street, then turn west to Washington Boulevard.  From there it will turn right (north) and proceed to 12th Street, then will make a right turn eastbound to Monroe before finally turning South on Monroe for Officer Francom's final resting place at the Ogden City Cemetary.  A map of the route can be found by clicking here.

It is difficult to find good out of such a tragedy, but the events have brought the community together and have strengthened bonds.  Today we honor those law enforcement officers who routinely put themselves in harms way to keep the streets safe.  From a simple traffic stop to a complicated drug bust, cops have to constantly be wary of bad guys.  Today we thank, salute and honor you.

Rest in peace Officer/Agent Jared Francom.

Police identify boaters in Pineview fatality

Thursday's Standard Examiner identifies the three men in the boat that police say killed a Pineview swimmer on August 21.

From the Tim Gurrister article,

Weber sheriff’s deputies have seized the boat believed to have struck the woman. The recently unsealed affidavits have identified its owner as Skyler Shepherd, 21, of South Ogden. In the boat with him were Colton Raines, 22, and Cole Boyer, 29, both of Ogden, the affidavits state.

In an Aug. 30 interview at the sheriff’s office, Shepherd told investigators Raines was piloting the boat when it struck Fujimoto, according to the documents.

Deputies were told all three men were seen consuming alcohol in the hours before the collision with Fujimoto, and Raines and Boyer were smoking marijuana. The search warrants covered the boat, as well as the blood of Raines and Boyer.

The warrants were executed and the blood samples were taken from the two Aug. 30, the documents said, noting that traces of marijuana remain in the human body for up to 30 days after ingestion.

A witness who lives adjacent to the area where Fujimoto was swimming heard a woman scream and went to the water’s edge to see a boat occupied by three males with a woman floating in the water near the boat, according to the affidavits.

“The witness heard one of the males call out, ‘Hey lady, are you alright, are you alright?” reads the document.

The witness then rowed out to the scene as the powerboat with the three males departed. “He was easily able to tell that Fujimoto was severely injured and bleeding and told the 911 dispatcher that ‘her insides were coming out.’ ”

 The article goes on to state:

A witness who was with the three men at Pineview said he observed Raines and Boyer smoking marijuana in the afternoon on the boat before the early evening collision with Fujimoto, according to the affidavits.

Weber County Attorney Dee Smith said Wednesday the case is still under investigation with no timetable on a decision on possible charges.

Nearly 6 weeks have passed since the Sheriff's office identified the boat's occupants yet no charges have been filed.

A September 16, 2011 Standard article informs us that two of the men are represented by high power Salt Lake attorney Greg Skordas:

Salt Lake City attorney Greg Skordas represents the two men who have not talked with detectives, at his request.

"I've asked my clients not to make statements until I'm present and can go over the case," said Skordas, who didn't identify his clients.
"If the sheriff's office thought a crime (had been) committed, they should have charged (them) awhile ago. Asking my clients to talk about a crime that didn't occur doesn't make sense."

What say you Ogden Valley faithful.  Did a crime occur?  If so, what should be the crime and punishment.

Lt. Phil Howell, Weber County Sheriff's Office Ogden Valley Commander loses battle with Cancer

We received a couple of notifications regarding the unfortunate and untimely passing of  Lt. Phil Howell of the Weber County Sheriff's Office and will post them below:

Hello; we were just informed that Lt. Phil Howell, Weber County Sheriff Ogden Valley Commander, has passed away.

We want to recognize his loyalty and service to the Valley, and appreciate all he has done.

He was instrumental and supportive in the organization of Neighborhood Watch groups, community meetings, and patrols. He was always the calm in any situation.

We will miss seeing him around our neighborhoods; and thank the current officers stationed up here for protecting us.

Ruthann Halay

Also, we received this from the www.HuntsvilleTown com email blast: 

It is with a  heavy heart that we pass on the news that Lt. Phillip Howell from The Weber County Sheriff's Office lost his valiant battle with cancer on September 6, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and co-workers.

About three years ago, Huntsville officials were disappointed to hear that, due to a restructuring within the Sheriff’s office, our Community Resource Officer, Mike Chatelain, would no longer be patrolling in Huntsville.

While we still miss Deputy Chatelain, Phil quickly became a great friend to all he associated with.  Phil was the Upper Valley Precinct commander and spent a great deal of time in Huntsville.  He was a first class individual and a great cop with an old school attitude.  He preferred negotiation, communication and education to citations.

Phil loved his island upbringing and spoke Hawaiian fluently, prefacing every conversation with aloha and humbly offering thanks with mahalo.

Phil left Hawaii for Utah in the early ‘70's to play linebacker for the Weber State College football squad.  After football, he had a distinguished 20+ year career with the Ogden Police department, where one of his biggest personal accomplishments was the large role he had in ‘cleaning up’ 25th street.

Phil took a short break from law enforcement to help with the family business in Hawaii before returning to Utah to attend BYU, where he received his Masters degree.

In the late ‘90's Phil returned to the career he loved when he was hired by the Weber County Sheriff’s office.  Prior to being named Commander of the Upper Valley Precinct, Lt. Howell worked in many areas within the Sheriff’s department: Investigations, accreditation, professional standards, and SWAT negotiations.

Phil will be missed in Huntsville, and we offer our sincerest condolences to his family.

Weber deputies seeking several suspects in boat hit-and-run

UPDATE TO OUR AUGUST 23, 2011 POST
From the Standard Examiner

HUNTSVILLE -- Authorities are looking for several suspects who were on a boat that struck and killed a woman in Pineview Reservoir over the weekend.
ABC 4 reports (http://bit.ly/p6ikog ) the Weber County Sheriff's Office believes the boat's driver stopped and talked to the injured woman in the water before fleeing.
Weber County authorities say 49-year-old Esther Fujimoto of Ogden died after she was struck around 8 p.m. Sunday while swimming in the reservoir.
Deputies say a bystander heard her screaming and came to her aid in a row boat. Fujimoto later died of her injuries.
Friends and colleagues say the woman was a University of Utah scientist seeking a cure for cerebral palsy.
Officials are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact authorities.

The Standard Editorial Board Nailed It This Morning With "Resort Road Won't Work" - Relating to the Powder Mountain Road, of Course

The Standard hit right to the heart of the Powder Mountain Road issue this morning with their editorial Resort road won't work.  Be sure not to miss the Grondahl cartoon, too.

Here are some tidbits, but read the entire editorial by clicking here:  (emphasis added)

The facts are clear: If there are going to be major plans for expansion at Powder Mountain -- including yearlong events and perhaps a new incorporated town -- there needs to be major changes with road access to Powder Mountain resort.

They went on to say,

The Weber County Sheriff's Department is concerned about the dangerous impact of heavier traffic up the resort road, but it can't do anything other than patrol the roads to make sure travel is as safe as possible.

And then,

It seems to us that some major brainstorming is needed. The existing road is not adequate. It won't work. Powder Mountain officials need to lead the way in coming up with safer, better transportation ideas. Unless some feasible idea is implemented to make the resort road safer and more practical, we can't see Powder Mountain's expansion ideas becoming a reality.

 Any comments from our Ogden Valley observers?