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The following letter and information was received by Sergeant N. Lekas of Prct. 4 and is provided here for your information and use. Some times we do get burglaries to houses where a suspect or suspects have made unauthorized or forced entry. I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to the scene of a burglary to discover there was no forced entry and thief just walked in and helped themselves. My investigation revealed the locks to the house did not work, the windows were open or the latches were not latched, the garage door was left open or unlocked and or the alarm system was not set or inoperable. As most of you know, I rarely almost never talk about me or my family, but I would like to share this with you. My wife and I make it a practice to keep our doors and windows locked whether we are at home or not. My alarm system is always set if we are not there, and we'll set the alarm when we are there if we are in a back portion of the house or have called it a day and turned in for the night. Obviously this is not a guarantee, but these simple things do give us a little more piece of mind while we are at home relaxing or sleeping. If a burglar should decide my house is next, they will encounter several difficulties to slow them down such as locked and dead bolted doors, secured windows, a lot of noise from the alarm system that has already auto dialed the police. If they're really lucky, I'll be home and they could encounter another difficulty, me. Our vehicles are in a securely locked garage at night and we will not leave anything of value in our vehicles. We too, as you, live in a nice neighborhood and know most of our neighbors, but we have no control over who comes and goes throughout the subdivision or who may be checking out our home when we are not there. Our community, just as many of yours has a neighborhood watch program and we do make an attempt to know who most of our neighbors are. Most families today live very busy life styles with work, families, school, church, social organizations, sport activities, etc., etc., etc., and sometimes it's the simple little things we can do around our homes and while we are out and about, can give us a little more piece of mind while trying to keep ourselves, our families and our property safe. Hope this is helpful. Together we can make a difference.
THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU: 1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator. 2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier. 3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste. And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have. 4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it. 5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway. 6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy. 7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too. 8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather. 9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.) 10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet. 11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms. 12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you keep your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me. 13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com)
8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU: 1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook. 2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors. 3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature. 4. I'm not complaining, but why would you pay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it? 5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets. 6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address. 7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation. 8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in. Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina, Oregon, California, and Kentucky; security consultant Chris McGoey, who runs crimedoctor.com; and Richard T. Wright, a criminology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, who interviewed 105 burglars for his book Burglars on the Job. Sergeant N. Lekas
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