The case in summary: The neighborhood of Borgenhaugen in Sarpsborg experiences almost daily thefts, which creates insecurity among the residents. Neighbors have started patrolling the area to deter thieves, but they do not confront the thieves directly. Many of the thefts can be linked to a collection of municipal housing nearby, where several residents struggle with drug addiction and mental illness. The police confirm that the situation is extreme, but with only one patrol in the evening and at night, it is limited how much they can catch. There is concern that the situation could escalate into confrontations between thieves and desperate neighbours. The municipality is in dialogue with the police to reverse the worrying development. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – We are out and driving as often as we can, says Christian Tønnesen. He is sitting in a large, black pickup truck. Together with Håvard Johansen, he drives slowly through the neighborhood at Borgenhaugen in Sarpsborg to make it difficult for the thieves. They have grown tired of the break-ins that have happened almost every night since the end of March. Christian Tønnesen has had to secure his own surveillance camera. The previous one was stolen. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen – We don’t go out and confront anyone. We just try to be in the way. It must be an unpleasant experience for them. But when they are obviously inside a farm where they don’t belong, they can be allowed to feel a little uncomfortable, says Tønnesen. He drives into his own driveway, where a new surveillance camera is mounted on the garage wall. The previous camera was stolen, and he has had his car broken into and a bicycle stolen. Tønnesen estimates that values worth around NOK 60,000 have been lost. The neighbors say they don’t get out of the car and confront anyone. They are only visible and in the way. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen Securing our own neighborhood – We want safe streets, an end to thefts and being able to travel with children and young people in safe surroundings. That’s what mother of small children Heidi Godager, who lives in the area, says. She tells about intoxicated people who make noise and disturbance, and who break into houses and gardens. Local police chief in Sarpsborg Kjetil Lunde has been out and talked to distressed residents at Borgenhaugen. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen A surveillance image from the neighborhood shows a man with a green mask sneaking around a driveway. A masked man was caught on surveillance camera. Photo: Privat It frightens the mother of young children. Addiction and psychiatry The neighbors tell of packages that never arrive, but are stolen by others. Cars are broken into, bicycles disappear, and flower pots are stolen. Godager can’t even have the windows open. – Then they come and rap with them things out of the window. Much of the unrest in the neighborhood can be traced to a collection of municipal housing nearby, confirms the local police chief in Sarpsborg, Kjetil Lunde. Several people with low living capacity live in the apartments. Many of them struggle with addiction and mental illness. Strong increase: – The arrows point the wrong way Many people experience break-ins and thefts from their homes every year. Last year, more than 16,000 reports of thefts from homes, holiday homes and storage rooms/garages were registered across the country. It is the highest number since 2014, and a marked increase since the years of the pandemic. In the first four months of this year, 5,545 reviews were registered. This is shown by figures news has received from the Norwegian Police Directorate. Industry figures from Finans Norge show that the insurance companies have also noticed a large increase. Up to July this year, 16,180 compensation cases have been registered for burglaries and thefts from homes. – There has been an increase of 10 per cent compared to the same period last year. Thefts from homes, garages and sheds are a widespread problem throughout Norway, especially in densely built-up areas and cities, says press manager Sigmund Clementz at If. Communications manager Bjarne Aani Rysstad in Gjensidige sees the same thing: – The numbers agree well with the picture we see. After a couple of years of low levels during the pandemic, it is on the way up again. The arrows point the wrong way, he says. Extreme conditions, according to the police The local police chief in Sarpsborg nevertheless calls the situation in the neighborhood at Borgenhaugen in recent months extreme. Also seen through the eyes of the police. – It is relatively new for us, even when it becomes as intense as it is now, says Lunde. The local police chief admits that what the police capture is limited. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen He says that the police are trying to collect reports and identify perpetrators. – In addition, we try to patrol the area here, but with one patrol in the evening and at night, it is limited how much we can catch. – It is easy to evade the patrol that cannot be up here all night, says Lunde. Afraid people will take matters into their own hands When the sun goes down, it is now therefore neighbors who patrol. Sarpsborg Arbeiderblad, which has written several cases about the thefts, refers to the neighbours’ efforts as civil protection. Both the residents and the police reject this. – There are a lot of people who feel a little powerless. They are scared and worried, says Håvard Johansen. Distraught neighbors have even started patrolling the neighborhood in the evening and at night. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen Tønnesen fears the consequences if things do not calm down in the neighbourhood. He believes that there could be confrontations between drug addicts who steal and desperate neighbors who have had enough. – What one is worried about is that they will break in or steal from the wrong people. Very wrong people. Only feels safe when the door is locked For the mother of small children, Heidi Godager, despair has led to several inquiries to politicians in the municipality. She wants them to take responsibility and make the neighborhood safe again. Heidi Godager wants to feel safe. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen – I’m just an ordinary, shaken neighbor who wants a change. Let go of feeling that the only safe place I have is only inside my own house. So not even in the courtyard or in the garden. Mayor Magnus Arnesen (H) says Sarpsborg must be a safe and good city for everyone. – This is a worrying development that we have a good dialogue with and work with the police to reverse. We are well aware of the problems. The mayor says it is important that both the municipality and the police are notified of unwanted incidents. Photo: Julie Helene Günther / news He says that those who live in the municipal housing have also experienced break-ins. The municipality visits the area daily with various services. They have also been on inspection. – It is also the case that if we receive information from the police that some of our tenants are involved in the incidents, we have to assess whether they can continue to live there, says Arnesen. Recommends taking a “thingfie” Photo: Nadir Alam / news Press manager Sigmund Clementz at the insurance company If advises people to regularly take pictures or video of the things they have at home. – What is important for the police is that they can prove that objects that they have recovered have actually been stolen. My strong recommendation is that you keep receipts and also document the serial number on the item. That will make it easier for the police, he says. Simple tips for taking “things” Move systematically through the house to get everything with you. It can be worthwhile to open doors in drawers and cupboards in advance. Don’t be afraid to lift things out to show them off. Take overview photos and close-ups. Use the camera from several angles in the rooms so you get everything. If you have cameras and home electronics with serial numbers, you should take close-up pictures of these numbers. Upload photos or video to the cloud. Many have online storage included in their mobile subscription. Published 19.09.2024, at 12:38 p.m
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Neighbors patrol to prevent thefts – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
