someone swiped the parallel bars.

For years, Debby Cresswell has had a set of parallel bars at her Windsor Park home. The kids and grandkids enjoyed playing on them. They may not have been the next Mary Lou Retton, but they had fun nonetheless, swinging and flipping around on them. The entire setup was a very large recreation-park-size piece of equipment. Unfortunately, the opportunity for some acrobatic action came to a halt recently.

“They took it from the side of the yard,” Cresswell says of the day someone stole the 12-foot-long parallel bars. “It weighed a ton. Go figure.”

The Victim: Debby Cresswell

The Crime: Theft

Date: Sunday, July 28

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Cresswell was amazed and frustrated that someone would steal something so big, and she found the crime unnecessary.

Time: 1 p.m.

Location: 6900 block of Woodland

Lt. Richard Dwyer of the Dallas Police North Central Patrol Division says that even though the price of scrap metal, mainly cooper, has gone down since last year, metal theft remains a concern in the area.

“One of the main issues with metal theft is the identification of the property. Many items cannot be marked for various reasons; therefore, it makes it hard for detectives to identify the property as stolen,” he says. “What owners can do is take photos of the property, especially if it is unique in size or style. Also, photos of any manufacturing or foundry markings that can help detectives trace the property are helpful. “

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 Numbers

5500

Block of Yolanda where a thief broke the window of a home’s back door, entered the property and stole a $1,500 plasma television on Aug. 3 around 1 p.m.

08.05

Date that an unknown driver struck the rear bumper of a neighbor driving in the 6000 block of Walnut Hill, causing $1,000 in damage to the rear bumper; the driver who struck the car did not have insurance and fled the scene $80,000

Source Dallas Police Department

Estimated value of jewelry stolen by a thief who entered through an unlocked back door to a home on the 7400 block of Baxtershire between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m.