Season’s Greetings to all!
The holiday spirit is upon us and
Santa’s workshop is in full production. Unfortunately, thieves are also very active this time of year. While stealing will never be completely eradicated, individuals
can make it more difficult to have their personal belongings taken. We call it
“hardening the target” and it consists of a few security measures that you may
or may not already have in place.
One of the simplest ways to harden the target is making sure
the doors and windows to your home and vehicle are locked. All it takes is a
mere 60 seconds or less to open an unlocked car door and grab a purse, wallet,
keys or cell phone.
In addition, while dogs can sometimes be deterrents, some thieves will enter
your home while you and your dog are in another room or in the backyard. It
only takes three to five minutes to walk through an unlocked door and take a
purse, wallet, keys or laptop.
Another way to protect your property is to make sure your
items (bicycles/tools) are locked in a secure area. Just closing your back gate
and keeping your items out of sight is not enough. There is an ever increasing
amount of thefts occurring from gated yards. Sensor lights that come on around
your yard can also be a deterrent. You can install the lights and set the
timers so as not to disturb your neighbors.
An alarm system can be another layer of defense against theft.
Unfortunately none of these methods are completely effective but they can make
a suspect leave your property alone and seek out an easier target.
Be a good neighbor and keep an eye out for suspicious
activity. Calling the police and providing a good description (license
plate/vehicle description/physical description of the person/direction of
travel) is one of the best ways to deter crime. If the criminals know you’re watching
and will call the police, they are less likely to target your neighborhood.
As always, feel free to contact us if we can be of any help. Together we can keep this a safe and happy holiday season!
