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Burglary Prevention Tips
There were a total of 59 reported residential and commercial burglaries within the Town of Greenwich during the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The purpose of the following is to inform residents and business owners how they might prevent a burglary at their home or place of business.
1. Get to know and develop a bond of trust with your neighbors. Watch out for each other; establish and participate in neighborhood crime watch organizations. Keep a neighborhood roster including work telephone numbers. Hide your spare key at your neighbor's house, not on your own property.
2. Immediately report suspicious activity to the Greenwich Police Department.
3. If a burglary occurs at your home contact GPD right away from a safe location like a neighbor's house.
4. Make you home look lived in. Arrange to have snow cleared, leaves removed and lawns cut as the season requires. Retrieve your mail and newspapers from the driveway promptly.
5. Have your neighbor take care of these issues if you are away for an extended period of time. Do not broadcast travel plans, but let your neighbor and GPD know that you will be away. Provide your travel itinerary and an emergency contact telephone number. Don't announce your absence on your answering machine. Stopping your mail and newspapers can signal that your house is unoccupied. Have your neighbor park a car in your driveway.
6. Invest in solid doors and good quality locks on doors and windows. Install peepholes. Do not invite strangers into your home. Close and lock your garage, lock sheds to prevent access to tools that could facilitate a break-in. Lock up your cars. Do not leave car keys and other valuables near a window where they can be seen. Lock your doors while visiting your neighbors or working in your yard.
7. Install timer lights and motion detection lights. Timers can also be placed on radios and televisions. Install and familiarize yourself with a quality alarm system with an audible ringer. When appropriate, isolate alarm zones to keep service people from wandering through your home. Store valuables before any workers can see them.
8. Carefully document the make, model and serial numbers of your valuables. An owner applied number can be engraved onto articles without manufacturers numbers. Photograph unique items, get insurance appraisals with detailed descriptions. Know the monograms and engravings on expensive furs and jewelry. Protect, do not flaunt your valuables. Use safety deposit boxes.
Burglars have been known to take or open safes.
9. Trim shrubbery to eliminate hiding places. Secreted doors can facilitate forced entry. Planting thorny bushes beneath windows makes it difficult for potential burglars to enter.
10. Dogs can be very effective deterrents, and a "beware of dog" sign, whether you have a dog or not often dissuade potential burglars. Have a trusted friend care for your dog in your home while you are away.
11. Keep blinds and drapes closed at night to discourage peeping toms, do not hang lingerie outdoors, and remain aware of current events.
Taking these measures will decrease the odds of your home being burglarized and enable the Greenwich Police Department to dedicate more resources towards the resolution, and further reduction, of crimes within the Town of Greenwich.
Detective Tim Powell
Burglary Clearance Squad
622-8075
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