In the recent past, there has been a marked increase in the number of burglaries to residences and vehicles. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our residents of some basic crime prevention tips:
Residences
1. Every evening before going to bed, take several minutes to check all windows and doors to insure that they are locked.
2. If you have an alarm, insure that it is set whenever you leave the house or upon retiring for the evening
3. Do not leave ladders or other objects unsecured in your yard with which a burglar can use to access a second floor window.
4. Trim back shrubs or plantings that are close to the house that could be used as a hiding place by burglars.
5. Keeping your home illuminated with outdoor lighting will serve as a deterrent against burglars who prefer to work undetected in the dark and the shadows.
6. Keep your window shades and blinds closed so that the interior of your home and your possessions cannot be viewed from the outside.
7. If you are not going to be home for more than a day, use timers for several lights to give your home a lived in look and have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
8. Record the serial number on all large expense electronic equipment (televisions, stereos, video game units, computers, laptops etec.) as this will enhance the chances of tracing stolen items.
9. Consider creating a Neighborhood Watch Association which basically involves neighbors keeping an eye on each other’s property. We will assist you in setting up this program.
10. Our Community Resource Officers are available to give presentations to neighborhood groups on crime prevention tips and strategies.
11. If you find a burglar in your home, do not confront or try to detain him as you are potentially risking your life to do so. Retreat to a safe place and immediately call 911 or LPD (732 363-0200 then press 0). Try to get the best physical and clothing description that you can so that this information can be relayed to the responding police officers.
Vehicles
1. Always lock the doors to your vehicle when it is unattended and when driving (most fatalities occur
when a person is ejected from the vehicle).
2. Never leave your vehicle running and unattended. Now that the cold weather is imminent, people have a tendency to do this and such behavior accounts for most of the stolen vehicles in town.
3. Keep all valuables out of sight in the vehicle including: GPS units (#1 item stolen), wallets, pocketbooks, laptop computers, jewelry, money (bills and loose change), and even CDs. Most of the time, these thefts are crimes of opportunity. The thieves will go through a neighborhood checking car doors until they find an open one and then will rifle it for anything of value. If items of value are visible from the outside, they may take the risk of breaking a vehicle window to steal those items.
4. Not that this is the issue at hand but NEVER, EVER leave an infant or child unattended in a vehicle.
Thank you,
Chief Rob Lawson.
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One Response
On point #6 of Home burglary prevention; In some of our Heimishe neighborhoods (I’m speaking mainly of B.P.)there is a “Minhag” (It must be so, otherwise why are so many people doing it.)to pull the shades back on Shabbos & Yomtov eves. when eating the Seuda, for all to see the beautiful chandelier (Chillar, Hungarian, B’laa”z.)and the interior Decor. Or, who can outdo each other with singing (Blasting, really.) Zemiros the loudest, at 1AM.