Police are investigating the second home burglary in Orange in recent weeks and they are urging residents to lock their homes and cars and keep valuables out view.
Between Monday night and Tuesday morning, a burglar entered a home in the Indian River neighborhood of Orange through an unlocked door overnight.
During the prior home burglary, the thieves cut a screen to get in through an unlocked window.
In both cases, they stole small electronics or a woman's handbag.
Police also said valuables were stolen from several unlocked cars and mail was stolen from mailboxes nearby. While canvassing the neighborhood, police recovered several items and they are asking residents who saw any suspicious activity overnight to call investigators at 203-891-2138.
Police are urging residents to remove valuables from cars and lock them overnight. Residents should also close and lock windows and doors, especially on the ground floor of homes.
They also offer the following tips to prevent burglaries:
Walk around your home with the eyes of a burglar. Look for weaknesses – sliding doors that could be jimmied off the track, glass that could be broken to gain entry, window unit air conditioners that could be easily removed, and so forth. Take a walk around the outside as well and note what pricey items are in view, tempting would-be burglars.
Lock the door. Install deadbolts on all doors. Double cylinders are best because they require a key on both sides of the door, and it prevents burglars from breaking a pane of glass, reaching around, and unlocking the door. Check your area’s fire code first because some places don’t allow double cylinder locks because they can trap inhabitants inside in the event of a fire.
Lock the door leading from the garage to the house, even if the garage door is down.
Don’t hide a key. Give a spare key to a neighbor instead. If your closest neighbor lives 10 miles away, and you absolutely must leave a spare key outside, put it in a combination lockbox.
Don’t label your keys or mailbox.
Secure windows and sliding doors. Many sliding doors can be popped off the frame, even when locked. Place a strong steel bar or two-by-four in the back groove, which prevents the door from sliding along the groove and opening. You can do the same with windows: Install a nail in the frame to prevent the window from opening more than a few inches.
Be modest and tuck away expensive items. Keep both the car and the bike into the garage. After purchasing a new piece of expensive electronic equipment, dispose of the box directly instead of leaving it next to your trash can, which lets would-be burglars know you have something shiny and new that could bring in great cash on the black market.
Create the illusion you’re always home. The majority of burglaries take place when people aren’t home, particularly during the day, while the victims are at work. Deter burglars by creating the impression that you’re always home: Leave on lights, the radio, or the television. And if you’re going on vacation for a while, don’t advertise your absence. Arrange for someone to pick up the mail, newspapers, mow the lawn, shovel the snow, and set out trash cans regularly.
Secure the area surrounding your house. Trim bushes and trees to discourage burglars from using them as hiding places. Avoid planting low shrubs in front of windows. Consider planting thorny shrubs for an added deterrent. And be sure to add lighting outside your home.
Get to know the neighbors. Tight-knit communities suffer fewer burglaries because people look out for each other and strangers stick out.
Install an alarm system–or at least a sign. Alarm systems are available at a number of price points, but an effective one should include sensors at entry points, motion detectors inside the house, and a loud outdoor alarm that alerts the entire neighborhood when someone has forced entry.
See more tips online. http://criminaljusticephd.org/crime-prevention-tips-for-homeowners/
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