The Crime: The Bismarck Police Department is asking for help from anyone who might have information about an apartment burglary at 2124 East Divide that happened on Friday, May 10, at 12:10pm. The female resident left her apartment to go to the laundry area of the apartment complex. She didn’t lock the door when she left. About five minutes later she returned and found a man in her apartment. When she asked him what he was doing, he claimed to be looking for his five year old daughter. He then left the apartment. The victim then noticed her purse and all the items in it were spilled on the living room floor. She is missing cash from her purse.

The Suspect: The suspect is described as a white male, 5’6”, approximately 35 years old with gray hair and gray beard. He was wearing a black Sturgis shirt and blue jeans.

If you have information: If you have information on this crime, please call the Bismarck Police Department at 223-1212. Tell the operator you have information about case number 13-8979. To report information anonymously on this crime or any other crime, call Crime Stoppers at 224-TIPS (224-8477).

Prevention:
• To help prevent burglaries, keep your doors locked at all times. This will serve to protect you from unwanted intrusions whether you are home or not. It only takes a few seconds for someone to enter an unlocked apartment and steal your purse or other valuables. Keep your windows secured as well. If opened slightly for air, make sure the window is secured so as not to open further. This is especially true for ground floor apartments.
• Get to know the other tenants in your building or other residents in your area. Neighborhood Crime Watch encourages this activity, which helps to reduce crime in that area. Tenant get-togethers are a great way to meet and get to know the other tenants in your building or complex.
• Report any suspicious or criminal behavior immediately to the Police Department. If you are reporting a crime in progress or other emergency, use 9-1-1. For all other activity or to make a report, call 223-1212. The Bismarck Mandan Apartment Association and the Bismarck Police Department are working together to report and evict if criminal activity takes place.
• Do not invite strangers to your apartment right after you meet them. Do not let anyone into your apartment who you are not expecting or have not identified. If you live in a security building, verify who is at the door. Don’t just “buzz” them through into the building. You compromise everyone’s safety by not verifying identity.