A suspect has been identified in a rash of car break-ins in the Crestview neighborhood.

No arrests have yet been made, and the suspect is not a homeless person, said Cmdr. Ray Shupe with the Durango Police Department.

Because the person is only a suspect and an investigation is ongoing, police did not release a name.

A Crestview community meeting was held last week spurred by a number of car break-ins.

The discussion quickly turned from crimes in Crestview to a broader discussion on problems tied to an increasing homeless population in Durango.

Resident Donna Graves said while about a dozen incidents had been reported to police, she estimated the number of break-ins could be as high as 50 because many residents did not report them.

La Plata County Sheriff Sean Smith said it’s a good idea to report all crimes, even if they are discovered days after the theft, because it creates a more accurate database for law enforcement agencies and they are better able to identify crime trends.

Smith said residents should call the nonemergency dispatch number, 385-2900, if they discover a theft days after it has occurred.

Shupe said the break-ins were easy targets: cars that were left unlocked.

“People don’t realize how quickly it can happen,” he said.

Padraic Ingle with the Durango Police Department offered several best practices to deter petty crimes. Among his recommendations:

Create a neighborhood watch program with a schedule of watch shifts.Ensure cars and house doors are locked, and garage doors are closed and locked each night.Document serial numbers of valuables.Set up a private security system.

parmijo@durangoherald.com

Create a neighborhood watch program with a schedule of watch shifts.Ensure cars and house doors are locked, and garage doors are closed and locked each night.Document serial numbers of valuables.Set up a private security system.