A KICK, THEN A SIREN.

The video shows that the man came out of nowhere. He peers in the back patio window and looks around. He disappears a few times, then comes back to peer inside again after pulling his shirt up to cover his head. He kicks the glass door and then looks inside again before walking away for a few seconds. After returning, the burglar gives three more big kicks. One the last one, the door gives way, and the home security siren sounds — and he quickly flees.

“There have been a string of burglaries

The Victim: Ryan Kelly

People

In addition, Kelly says there was another break-in in the area Friday and Saturday. According to Kelly, a neighbor said the same man in the video came to his house around midday and rang the doorbell to see if he needed any yard work done. A neighbor’s house was robbed an hour later — the thief exiting out the front door as the gate in the back was locked.

The Crime: Criminal mischief/attempted burglary

Date: Thursday, July 31

Time: Daylight hours

Location: 4300 block of Mill Creek south of 635 and east of the toll road where guys are going door-to-door in the middle of the day — ringing doorbells under the guise of yard work — and then kicking in back doors if they find a suitable house,” Ryan Kelly says.

And this attempted break-in happened at Kelly’s own home — all captured on video.

Dallas Police Sgt. Keitric Jones of the Northeast Patrol Division says most burglars are looking for unoccupied homes. If a home appears occupied, the burglar will usually look for other, more inviting homes. He offers a few things to keep in mind regarding home break-ins.

“When away from home, leave a radio playing. Always leave a few inner lights burning at night. Automatic timers can be used to vary the on/ off pattern of interior lights when you’re away,” he says.

Jones says to use common sense in protecting a home and notes that a security alarm can really make a difference, as in Kelly’s case.

8.12 5 7

Date when Dallas Police arrested the suspect, 22-year-old Brandon Pickens, in Little Rock, Ark.

Number of burglaries or attempted burglaries that Pickens may be responsible for, according to police

Number of weeks during which the crimes took place

SOURCE: Dallas Police Department

Eric Nadel, Preston Hollow resident and longtime voice of the Rangers, received the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Hockaday junior Austria Arnold was elected president of National Youth Cutting Horse Association during the group’s annual July convention in Fort Worth. Prior to her election, Arnold served as the first vice president for a year. She has also been an area director since 2011.

Education

The National Association of Independent Schools selected Allison Hogan, the primer teacher at The Episcopal School of Dallas, for its annual Teachers of the Future program. As one of only 35 teachers nationwide chosen for the program, Hogan will participate in a variety of teaching initiatives to inspire leadership among students and colleagues.

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