Keep Those Burglars Away This Summer

Having good neighbors can pay off in more ways than one can imagine. Maintaining a good relationship with the community is one of the strongest ways to protect a home, said Jobie Wise, a 12-year veteran law enforcement officer and Florida crime prevention practitioner.

Wise explained that back in the day people would sit on their front porch and know everything about the neighborhood, from the type of car their neighbor drives to time of the day they were likely to come home from work. Now as society becomes more mobile we do not have that type of security.

“We are not as aware today as many folks were previously,” he said.
Before going on vacation this summer it is wise to form a “Crime Watch” with neighbors. Most law enforcement officers will come out and give guidelines on personal safety and home protection.

It is not much of a commitment; it is just paying attention to suspicious activity, Wise said. Criminals are less comfortable in watched-over and well-kept neighborhoods.

Trusted neighbors can also help make it seem like a house is occupied when in reality it is not. Giving neighbors a set of keys to a car so they can move it once in a while gives the illusion that someone is home. Having them pick up mail and newspapers is also helpful, but those services can also be stopped if preferred.

It might seem obvious to call in suspicious activity that occurs in a community, but many people now are less likely to do it because they do not want to cross boundaries, but it is important.
“We have found that when [neighbors] come together and partner with law enforcement, they drive out crime,” Wise said.

Keeping a home well manicured is also a great way to scare criminals away, Wise said. Known as the “Broken Window Theory,” the more dilapidated the house, the more comfortable a criminal is in the home.

A home should look difficult to break into, but that does not mean you need a moat with alligators in it, he said.

Security surveys of your home are offered by departments who have officers trained in securing home safety. It is a free service, and they leave a report that explains how to go around and make improvements to a house, business, or apartment, he said.

Wise offered safety tips for vacation goers this summer. To secure sliding glass doors home owners can insert a wooden dowel into the track to limit or prevent movement. There are also metal fold-down blocking devices called “charley bars” that can be screwed down.
Windows should be closed and locked. They should also be completely visible; any type of concealment by hedges can make an easy entry.

Lighting is another tactic that can be used to keep criminals away. Light timers and infrared motion sensor lights surrounding the house can trick burglars into believing that someone is home, Wise said. Interior light timers can also establish occupancy.

Very seldom do burglars break things, like windows, to get into homes. They would rather pop out a screen than throw a brick through a window, Wise explained.

Wise also encourages residents to have an alarm system; the louder and more annoying, the better. Loud noises trigger the burglar to panic because they create confusion and dull their senses. Loud alarms also lead many neighbors to call in for a noise complaint, which might expedite law enforcement’s trip out to the house.

Those living in areas without neighbors close by, it is more important to have an alarm that is monitored by law enforcement. Some people have the misconception that an alarm is always treated as an emergency, but law enforcement sometimes receives so many false calls it is almost a liability to drive over.

In the long run, the goal is to make a home look as unattractive to a burglar as possible. They are usually looking for an opportunity.

“We like to get a bargain; we like to get things on sale. Criminals are looking for homes that are easy targets,” Wise said. “You won’t want your home to be a bargain.”