Sheriff Wants You to Be Alert

The seeks your help to curb residential burglaries.

Sheriff Clark Millsap said his office has seen an increase in burglaries in the past month, mainly in the northern half of the county.

To help catch the culprits, Millsap said, be sure to lock your doors and windows when away from home. More important, report suspicious activity to 911 immediately.

A common ruse for burglars is to knock on the door to see if anyone is home. If someone answers the door, they might give some random reason for knocking (lost dog, looking for a friend, wrong house).

So if someone knocks on your door and seems surprised when you answer or doesn’t have a valid reason for being there, the sheriff said, call 911 as soon as possible so law enforcement can check the area.

With the holiday season approaching, it is important to remain vigilant in keeping watch over the community for the safety of everyone, Millsap said.

You can stay anonymous when calling 911 for help and when offering information to the Cartersville-Bartow County Crime Stoppers at 770-606-TIPS. You could get a reward if your Crime Stoppers call leads to an arrest.

The criminal investigations division of the Sheriff's Office can be reached at 770-382-5050, ext. 6029 or 6030.