By Janine DavisRecord Staff WriterIn a packed, standing-room only community hall Tuesday night, Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison implored residents to keep their eyes and ears open for any suspicious activity.“You may wonder if what you’re experiencing is worth calling 911 or another contact number at our department, but experience tells us these incidences often snowball into something bigger or become another problem for your neighbors, so we want to know,” Sheriff Harrison told the crowd of nearly 200 gathered in the Gore Case Community Center at the southwest border of the county.“We’re so fortunate to live in a community that’s significantly safer than many, to the east especially, and a big reason is that criminals know this is a tight-knit community with residents who are aware and able to protect themselves,” he said.Recent BurglariesAt the same time, Harrison said several recent burglaries in the area, including the theft of some high-end items from a local farm, have raised concerns which law enforcement officials and community leaders wanted to address through the meeting. Specifically, the meeting focused on concerns about how to prevent trouble and protect property.Five people were arrested and taken into custody following the farm burglary, which Harrison and his crew attribute to leads from local citizens.“These thefts are not acceptable; somebody came onto your property and stole what you worked hard for,” Harrison stated. He added that at 22 percent, Warren County’s property crimes clearance rate is significantly above the national rate of around 12 percent.“These people are fueling a drug addiction to meth or heroin, and it’s got a death grip on them so that they’re just looking for their next ‘high,’” said Harrison. “They’re breaking into places, stealing stuff and turning it into cash for their next high.”Scrap metal and copper in particular are frequent targets, he noted.“If you want to know what somebody’s going to steal, it’s whatever is easiest for them to turn into cash,” said Lt. Scott Schoenfeld. “Right now, that’s scrap metal. It’s pretty much untraceable.”Schoenfeld said that residents might not think to report a small theft, but if left unchecked, burglars will get comfortable with stealing from the property and make return visits.“People are creatures of habit and like to go where it’s comfortable,” he said. “If they’ve stolen from your place and gotten away with it, they’re emboldened to go back.”Police urged residents to call them if they find any traces of meth cooking and to avoid handling materials which could easily explode.Preserving Values“I hear people say that what they love about this community is that we still have small-town values, and they worry that this will change,” said Harrison. “But it’s meetings like this tonight that are going to preserve those values. If we lose that value system, it’s because we let it go.”Harrison said the fact that so many people showed up to the meeting on short notice speaks volumes about how residents are committed to preserving small-town values.He urged people to inventory their property, track serial numbers and etch a unique mark on tools and other equipment that will help police find and return stolen items.Lt. Matt Schmutz told the audience to follow the Neighborhood Watch model in protecting themselves and their neighbors.“Some people say, ‘well, we can’t do a Neighborhood Watch program because of our geography,’ but all it is is neighbors watching out for each other,” said Schmutz. “It’s about observing your surroundings, people coming and going, being good neighbors and talking to the police.”Harrison said part of the problem has been undesirable people moving into the community as transients. Based on tracked activity such as frequent package deliveries believed to be drugs, Harrison said his department is doing its best to “help these people move along elsewhere.”Despite drug activity and break-ins, Harrison underlined the near absence of violent crime in Warren County.“I look at what’s going on in St. Charles, St. Louis and other places nearby, and it’s crazy,” he said. “The fact that it’s not happening here isn’t a fluke; in large part it’s because people like you care enough to get involved.”Sheriff Urges Vigilance Among County Residents