Chattanooga police reported 747 burglary cases citywide in 2024 — 433 of them involving residential properties. Detective Kevin Flanagan said these crimes can happen to anyone, regardless of neighborhood.
“I’ve worked burglaries in every neighborhood in Chattanooga,” Flanagan said. “I’ve worked them in the million-dollar homes, and I’ve worked them in the trailer park areas. It’s everywhere.”
While the annual report shows significant decreases in certain areas such as aggravated assault cases and fatal crashes, there are also significant increases to take into account.
One of the biggest factors in how burglars choose a target is visibility, or lack there of, according to Flanagan.
“They don’t really want to be seen,” he said. “They don’t want to have any interaction with homeowners… anything you can do to deter that is what you want to do.”
Simple security steps can make a big difference
To help homeowners protect their property, Flanagan recommends installing bright flood lights and motion sensors — and ensuring they’re turned on and functioning. He also warns against landscaping that provides hiding spots.
“Stay away from high shrubs and stuff like that that could block the view of your windows,” he said.
Flanagan added that while locking your doors is still important, relying on that alone is no longer enough.
“A lot of people think you have to lock your door, but that doesn’t matter anymore,” he said. “They can kick it in even if it’s locked.”
He suggests reinforcing doors with additional security mechanisms that can be found at any hardware store. These simple changes, he said, can delay burglars long enough for law enforcement to respond.
“If you can delay, delay, delay… it gives us time to get on scene and actually catch them in the act,” he said. “Bolt your safes to the floor, bolt them to the wall, bolt them to the concrete.”
Hamilton Counted 2024 Year-End Report uses data to get an idea of the county’s standing in various areas like education, crime, substance abuse, and more.
An audible alarm system can help alert police, and a good camera system with cloud storage can be a vital tool for evidence collection.
“If it’s on the cloud, they can rip the camera off the wall, and it’ll still record them doing it,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan also recommends writing down serial numbers for high-value items, which can help police track stolen property — especially when thieves attempt to sell them online.
“That’s a biggie,” he said. “Detailed description of your property and its value is good for us.”
Be wary of disguised intruders
Some burglars may pose as door-to-door salespeople to determine whether a home is occupied. Flanagan advised letting them know someone is home, even if you don’t open the door.
“You don’t have to answer, but say ‘I’m not interested’ or something like that, just to let the unknown party know you’re there,” he said.
Prevention is key
Whether you own or rent, Flanagan urges residents to take preventive steps — even if it’s just for peace of mind.
“It might take a couple of hours to install some of these simple security measures, and it will go a long way,” he said.
He also cautions against advertising vacation plans on social media and recommends informing a trusted neighbor when you’ll be away and what vehicles should be expected in the driveway.
“Taking the time to prevent the problem can make all the difference,” Flanagan said.
