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Burglary Prevention Tips from Lt.Minton

A message from Lt. Daniel Minton, 1st Precinct Sector 111:

Since we have seen an increase in Burglaries in the sector I am sending out some basic burglary prevention tips. To give you an idea on the numbers, we have had 10 burglaries so far this month in the sector compared to 6 last year in the same time frame (Nov 1st to Nov 21st). I hope this helps and remember to stay vigilant in watching your neighborhood. Don’t be afraid to report suspicious activity. You don’t need to leave your name and we will not come out to your house if you don’t want us to once you make the call to 911.

“He who does not prevent a crime when he can, encourages it.”
Seneca, mid-1st century AD

Lt. Daniel Minton
“Lt Dan”
1st Precinct Sector 111
2501 Q. Street
Richmond, VA
240-9158 (B)
646-0574 (O)

Sector 111 encompasses Church Hill, Chimborazo, Church Hill North, Fulton, Oakwood, and Union Hill:

The Burglary Basics:

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
• Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

Don’t tempt a thief:

• Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
• Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
• Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
• Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.”

Locks…get the best:

• No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.
• Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
• When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Targeting the Outside:

• Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
• Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

Windows:

• Most windows can be pinned for security.
• Drill a 3/16″ hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:

• An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.
• Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.

If Your Home Is Broken Into:
If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:

• Do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside.
• Use a neighbor’s phone to call police.
• Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes!

LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW!
Light – Up your residence
Lock – Your doors at all times
Law – Call when you see something suspicious.