He leaped the fence and grabbed yard tools.

The Victim: Ellen Fleishmann
The Crime: Burglary
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 22
Time: Between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m.
Location: 5600 block of Charlestown

Ellen Fleishmann believed her Melshire Estates home was secure. A gate surrounds her property, and an alarm system protects the house. However, a crafty burglar recently found a hole in the security, leaping the gate and entering her small, plastic detached shed. The burglar made off with yard and gardening tools including a leaf blower, hedge trimmer, tree trimmer and lawn edger — just as spring and lawn care season approaches.

The family’s car also had been rifled through, but luckily nothing was left inside. Fleishmann says it is a creepy feeling knowing someone invaded her family’s property. Since then, the family has decided to keep all tools in the more secure and locked garage.

“It’s annoying, but if that’s the worst thing that happens to me, I’ll live,” she says.

Dallas Police Lt. Richard Dwyer of the North Central Patrol Division says no matter where a shed is located, it should always be locked, even for brief periods of time. And residents should remember no matter what type of padlock, it is imperative that the clasp be extremely strong and secure as well.

“If possible, a good outdoor floodlight that illuminates the part of the yard where the shed is located is also helpful,” Dwyer says. “And don’t forget, when you buy tools and lawn equipment that have serial numbers, copy down that number on the front of the instruction sheet that comes with the item so you can always find it when needed.”

Crime numbers

5300

Block of West Lovers where someone pushed a woman to the ground, stole her purse and ran away; the suspect made off with $90 in cash, a $100 cell phone and a $50 wallet

$26,000

Total value of items stolen March 6 during a home burglary in the 4500 block of Meadowood

03.03

Date when someone stole a $20,000 hydraulic hammer from a construction site in the 4200 block of LBJ Freeway 

Source: Dallas Police Department