Takoma Park Police Talk Home Security

This month is National Crime Prevention Month and the Takoma Park Police are taking the time to give residents tips on how to prevent crime in the city. This week the department tackles home security.

• Quick Fact #1:  The greatest crime of opportunity is burglary.

• Quick Fact #2:  More than 50% of burglaries committed does not involve forced entry.

• Quick Fact #3:  When a burglar forces entry, it is typically through arear or side door or window, where he is less likely to be visible.

The most cost-effective and successful way to safeguard your home is to
follow good security habits.  This includes:

• Locking and securing your windows and doors, especially when no one is home

• Drawing your blinds so burglars cannot “window shop"

• Securing gates and fences, which is one more obstacle a burglar would have to consider when choosing a home to burglarize.

• Trimming shrubs and bushes so your home is more visible to the street, because burglars do not want to be seen; and

• Utilizing and arming an alarm system if you have one installed - Audible alarms generally deter burglars from entering the residence.

Free services offered by the Takoma Park Police Department:

1.  Residential Security Surveys:  An assessment of the strengths and
weaknesses of security measures of a residence (fences, doors, lighting,
etc.).  An officer will go to your house, assess the security of the
home, and provide cost-effective solutions for observed weaknesses.

2.  House Checks:  Service provided for those who will have their home
unoccupied for an extended period of time (vacation, renovations, etc.).
 Your residence will be visited  two times a day by a patrol officer,
who makes sure your home is still secure.  You will be notified
immediately of any discrepancies.

3.  Operation Identification:  Residents mark all their valuables with
a specific identification number and write down all serial numbers of
valuables to be kept by the police department.  Stickers are provided to
participants to display on their home doors/windows to signify
participation in the program, also making it less desirable for
criminals to burglarize those residences.

Contact Officer Carla Magnaye at carlam@takomagov.org for more information on Home Security or to request one of the services.

Next week’s theme:  Crime Reporting & Community Engagement