Crime and Investigations


 

Sheriff Preserve the Peace:
The sheriff shall keep and preserve the peace within his county, for which purpose he is empowered to call to his aid such persons or power of his county as he may deem necessary. He must pursue and apprehend all felons, and must execute all writs, warrants, and other process from any court or magistrate which shall be directed to him by legal authority.  SDCL 7-12-1

Hamlin County Investigations:
The Hamlin County Sheriff's Office spends many hours working on criminal case throughout the county as well as crime prevention.  A few communities throughout the county have County Law Contract Services that provides a set number of hours of patrol time in the community to prevent crime and enforce city ordnances.  For more information on the County Law Contract Service, please click here. 

During the past few years the call of services and crime violations have increased in the county.  Many of the cases in Hamlin County have been solved and arrests have been made.  The Hamlin County Sheriff's Office works with other agencies in the state and including the Estelline Police Department on many different cases. 

If you have seen a crime occurring in Hamlin County, call the Hamlin County Sheriff's Office at 605.783.3232 as soon as possible, do not wait.  If you wait, other property or lives may be effective and the crime becomes harder to solve.


Crime Prevention:

  • Lock Your Doors!  Most crimes can be prevented by locking your doors.  Lock vehicles when (roll up windows) not in use, lock garage/shop doors and house doors.  Use deadbolts and metal doors for house or garage/shop doors to get best protection.  If you own a business, place a hard metal bar horizontally across the center of the door when the business is closed up for the night.  Make sure to the remove the bar when the business is open for the day.   
     

  • Lock Windows.  Make sure that all windows in your house are locked and not opened when your not home.  Keep vehicle windows up when you are parking and away from the vehicle.
     

  • Easy Spots for Keys.  Do not leave a key under the doormat, mailbox or outside locations where it is easy to find.  If you must keep a key behind leave it with a trusted neighbor or family member.
     

  • Make it Look Like Someone is Home.  When you are not home, have timers turn on different lights in the house and have someone pick up newspapers and trash from the outside.  When you leave for vacation, make sure that only a few people know that you are leaving.
     

  • Important Documents Locked Up.  Keep title work and other important documents locked up in a safe or trust box.
     

  • Have Lots of Light.  Have outside lights on during the night.
     

  • DO NOT GIVE ANY INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE.  Make sure that you do not give out important information over the phone.  Driver license numbers, date of birth, social security numbers and credit card numbers. 
     

  • Cut Up Important Paper Work.  Make sure to cut up any important paper work before placing them into the trash.  If you also write checks on the duplicate copies, make sure that your account numbers are blacked out and cut the copies before throwing them away.  
     

  • Secure your mailbox. Obtain a lock, if necessary. If you receive mail through an apartment house cluster-box arrangement, make sure the locks for the panel and your box lock correctly.
     

  • When applying for a credit card, check the return address. If there is a sticker with a return address placed on the application, contact the card issuing company to verify the correct address.
     

  • Business.  Keep the inside and outside well lit during opening and closed hours.  Keep windows cleared so law enforcement is able to see into the building.  Use deadbolts or metal bars on doors when the business is closed.  HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS OR A SECURITY SYSTEM.  Have a well organized inventory.   

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