A SKULL SAT IN THE YARD.

Karen Turbeville sells digital X-ray equipment. She had been demonstrating the equipment at a hospital on Feb. 26 and had to leave it in the trunk of her car.

The Victim: Karen Turbeville

The Crime: Burglary of a motor vehicle

Date: Thursday, Feb. 27

Time: Between 8 a.m. (Feb.27) and

8 a.m. (Feb. 28)

Location: 7200 block of Lakehurst

On the morning of Feb. 28, Turbeville went outside her Meadows neighborhood home to find a human skull and skeletal hand in her yard and what remained of demonstration imaging equipment strewn about. The skeletal pieces are part of the equipment and used to test X-Ray equipment without bombarding a person with continued radiation. It would have been extremely difficult for Turbeville to remove the equipment herself because the kit is very large and heavy. Turbeville says she is normally very conscientious about securing her belongings and her vehicle.

The kit costs thousands of dollars, and she is hoping that because the company has the serial numbers on file, and because the equipment is so unique, perhaps it can be recovered and returned.

Now Turbeville is hoping her day was not a complete loss.

“I hope we made the sale at least,” she says with a laugh.

Officers with the North Central Patrol Division say a large number of similar burglaries occur when residents do not secure their vehicle and leave belongings out in plain sight. They urge residents to always Lock, Take, Hide — lock your vehicle, take out belongings, or hide those items that you can’t remove.

Also, it is always recommended to park in a garage when at all possible or in a well-lit area when it is not possible.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer and author of “Raising the Stakes”, obtainable at raisingthestakesbook.com. If you have been a recent crime victim, email crime@advocatemag.com.

CRIME NUMBERS |

Time on March 1 when police arrived at the Preston Center La Madeleine after the restaurant’s security alarm sounded; police discovered the double doors pulled open and damaged, as well as a man sleeping inside. With bloodshot eyes, an unsteady gait, and smelling of alcohol, the man told officers that he did not know how he got into the business. Police took him into custody and charged him with public intoxication and criminal trespassing.

$50 6500

3 a.m. 4:17 a.m.

Value of a woman’s wallet stolen from her purse, which she briefly left unattended in a shopping cart at the Preston Forest Walgreens at 5:15 p.m. March 1

Block of Lupton where the exterior of a home sustained $1,000 worth of damages after an egging occurred sometime between 6 p.m. March 7 and 6 a.m. March 9

Time when a thief with a sweet tooth struck a 7-Eleven near Forest and South Central Expressway on March 10; after stealing $59 worth of Snickers bars, the suspect fled the scene in a 1996 silver GMC truck

SOURCE: Dallas Police Department

Home Improvement

Barry O’Brien 972-342-7232 ccrbarry.com available. Call us for your quote today!

ROHDE’S ORGANIC NURSERY AND NATURE STORE

Garden Center 1651 Wall Street Garland, Texas 75041 972-864-1934 www.beorganic.com

Locally-owned, Organic lawn maintenance, landscape design, stone work, and fences. We offer all-organic products, native plants, all-natural pet foods, wild bird supplies, and chicken feed.

Fossil Rim

Building Fundraiser

2299 County Road 2008 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 254.897.2960 fossilrim.org

Help us rebuild the gift store one brick at a time. Join us in conservation by engraving your name on a brick to pave the way to the new gift store. Visit fossilrim.org and CLICK THE BRICK.

Fine Auto Mats

Auto 605 South Sherman Street, Ste. 605D Richardson, Texas 75081 972-907-5291 www.FineAutoMats.com

Customize the inside of your vehicle with handmade, luxury auto mats. Do away with factory auto mats and express yourself! Shags, hand-knotted, and loom knotted in a variety of patterns and colors.

| jcbeggslaw.com