Bricks smashed, Burglars dashed.

The crime was nothing new for Chad and Stephany Hale. The couple has lived in Lake Highlands for less than two years, and this is the second break-in of their home. Last year, the family’s home was hit during a string of burglaries in which purses were stolen — someone busted the kitchen window to steal Stephany Hale’s purse. The recent burglary of their home was a bit of déjà vu.

6301 Gaston Avenue, Suite 800 214-821-0829

The Victim: Chad and Stephany Hale

The Crime: Burglary

Date: Monday, May 20

Time: Between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Location: 9900 block of Larchbrook

“Clearly this was frustrating to go through again — and this time on a larger scale,” she says. Earlier in the day of this most recent burglary, a neighbor saw a dark-skinned man age 16-20 in her backyard. The neighbor made eye contact and scared him off, but Hale believes he returned later in the afternoon and broke in through the back bedroom window by throwing three bricks through their double-paned windows.

The burglar made off with a TV, iPhone, laptop computer, jewelry, three rifles and some other electronics. The family discovered the crime when Hale’s 12-year-old daughter arrived home to find the front and back doors open and a mess of broken glass.

After the Hales notified police, detectives took fingerprints and DNA from some blood near the broken window. The family has now added an alarm system and two new dogs, but Hale says they still feel very violated, angry and frustrated.

“We have been out quite a bit of money from both of these incidents. I originally thought living on a busy corner would make us too visible to bother with, but apparently we are accessible as well,” Hale says.

She hopes police will begin patrolling her neighborhood more.

Dallas Police Sgt. Keitric Jones of the Northeast Patrol Division says that there is always a possibility the criminals who commit these crimes will be arrested and that evidence at a scene like this can help.

“The more physical evidence that is collected at the scene of the crime increases the chances of apprehension,” he says. “Also, having serial numbers with accurate descriptions and pictures of stolen property increases the likeliness of recovery of the victim’s property.”

Jones says that if residents feel there is not enough police presence, they are advised to call their local station to request extra patrols. Residents can also request a security survey conducted by police to advise them of making their homes safer from burglaries.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and author of “Raising the Stakes”, obtainable at raisingthestakesbook.com. If you have been a recent crime victim, email crime@advocatemag.com. | crime

Men stand accused in the murder of Lake Highlands-area resident Vasile Cartojan, who was gunned down in his own alley after running after a suspected car thief

Source Dallas Police Department

Numbers

Age of the youngest suspect, Demuntra Rashard Green, who, at the time of publication, is the only one of the three who has not been apprehended

Witnesses told police they heard Green and the other suspects, Jaquincy Bush and Ryan Norris bragging about the theft and shooting