Thieves Terrorize Berino Residents

Residents in the small community of Berino say their homes are repeatedly burglarized during the day and say the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office is not doing enough to try to stop it.

A woman, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation, said it’s easily more than a half-dozen homes that are burglarized each month in her neighborhood.

Those who live in the small community say they feel repeatedly terrorized.

“Something has to be done,” the woman said. “We can’t live like this.”

Afraid to be at home and even more scared to leave, the woman said her family’s house is just one of many in the remote neighborhood that is repeatedly burglarized.

“Can’t do anything. Can’t even go to church because we have to worry about our house being broken into,” she said.

The most recent break-in occurred Thursday afternoon.

Shoe prints around her property were snapped in a cell phone picture, the woman said, after the home had been burglarized while no one was there.

The family claims this is investigation work the Sheriff’s Office should be doing.

“We need more cops to be out here,” another family member said. “Just because we’re in a secluded area doesn’t mean they should just put us aside.”

Neighbors said the thieves hide out in the desert just watching the neighborhood, and as soon as someone leaves, that is when residents say the thieves make their move and go in to steal.

“We understand there’s a higher than normal average of burglaries happening in that community,” said Kelly Jameson, spokeswoman for the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office. “If something’s happening, don’t wait until after its happened to call us. If you call us before something’s happened we can be proactive in getting out there quicker.”

But burglarized residents say they are afraid for their lives.

“Not until somebody gets killed, then they’ll realize what’s really going on and where we’re coming from.”

To help reduce the chance of your home being burglarized, always secure your home and belongings, Jameson said. And most importantly, keep records of serial numbers on valuables so if anything is stolen, victims can tell investigators exactly what is missing.