By Kalin Krohe, Panhandle Post
The Box Butte County Sheriff's Office is warning residents outside of Alliance in the rural country of burglaries.
"I think things are picking up out in the country," Box Butte County Sheriff Tammy Mowry said. "I'm at call number three about unknown people being out on their property. I had an individual Monday night say they removed 130 gallons of diesel...the red diesel from his tractor. One other place, they had noticed that there were things moved around and attempted entry. The other party reported there had been somebody out there driving around. I'm asking that if anybody that lives in the country to really pay attention to their outbuildings. If they have things of value, they better get them locked up."
There has recently been a number of burglaries in the City of Alliance. Panhandle Post asked Mowry if she thinks the burglaries in the rural areas have any connection.
"I have no idea," Mowry said. "I just know that I'm not going to mess around. When we start getting calls like this...then folks need to know that somebody is out prowling around. Most likely it is one person or two, or a group that are together. "
Mowry said the best way to prevent burglaries is to keep property locked up.
"Take your keys out of your vehicles and even lock those," Mowry said. "Remove anything of any value that's in the vehicle. Be sure to lock up your work buildings and all of that. They'll go after tools, they'll go after generators...all those things that they could easily pawn."
Panhandle Post asked Mowry why she thinks there's a rise in burglaries in Alliance and country.
"People don't have any money," Mowry said. "I want people to take care of what they worked hard for and make sure everything is locked up. They have to do some of their own self policing. Once they figure out that they can do it and get away with it...and go get money, they'll be doing it till they get caught."
If residents in rural areas experience any thefts, call the Box Butte County Sheriff's Office at (308) 762-6464.