A local man puts up a sign warning of burglaries in Amador County Amador County – A 33-year Amador County resident fed up with a recent string of burglaries has posted a warning sign in his neighborhood. And he hopes the practice catches on around the county.

Bob VanDePol said there have been four or five burglaries in the area between Ousby and Molfino roads since April, and the Amador County Sheriff’s Department has not made any related arrests. The Sheriff’s Office, however, reported that it did make three arrests in six burglary cases reported in that area over that time frame.

One of the burglaries affected a relative of VanDePol, whom he declined to name. A woman also a relative of the burglary victim, said VanDePol took it into his own hands to warn people that burglars are striking throughout Amador County.

VanDePol put up a sign Monday afternoon that said: “Warning! Burglars in this area!” Van De Pol posted the sign in a yard near the corner of Mulfino Road and Highway 88.

He complained about the Sheriff’s department, saying he had a good idea who burglarized the house. The suspect was questioned, but not arrested. VanDePol said: “Apparently they’re not apprehending any of these guys.”

The woman (who asked not to be identified) said the sign was “to alert other people,” because she would “hate to see other people lose what (her relative) lost.”

Sheriff Martin Ryan said Wednesday: “We’re continuing to work and follow leads in that case. It’s still active” and “it’s still being worked.” The Sheriff said he spoke with the victims of that burglary in April, and they shared information with him on whom they believed was responsible. Ryan said: “The laws don’t allow us to do some of the things they would want us to do in this case.”

Ryan said he discussed the limitations in the case, and the Sheriff’s department is “going to pursue it as we do all of our other cases, to the fullest extent.” He said they must “make sure that we’ve got the right people.” The sheriff said his personnel work hard, and are dedicated to at their profession.

The investigation included a K-9 search of a cabin separate from the house, which was found burglarized, with items taken, and detectives took fingerprints.

VanDePol said the sign was going up “to alert other people,” and it “would probably protect our place too.” He said: “A lot of people have sure taken notice already,” and he hopes the sign stops others from falling victim. He said: “It’ll be worth it to me if it stops one damn burglar.”

They have installed security systems, even though they “never had to do anything like that in the years that we’ve lived here,” he said, adding that “people just don’t rest at ease when this happens.”

One man they suspected lived in a tent built next to his property, and another elsewhere, built with limbs and found material and was “big enough to have a fire pit to cook his meals.” Authorities evicted the man from a private property, and he has since moved to another county.

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