Seventh Precinct Issues Warnings About Burglaries and Car Break-Ins

Increases in residential burglaries and thefts have prompted the 7th precinct to issue a warning about these crimes Wednesday.

Police say there has been a slight increase in homes burglarized, particularly along the western part of the precinct, as homes were burglarized in Merrick and Wantagh this past week.

Larceny from autos is on the rise along the eastern part of the precinct with five incidents reported in the Massapequa area this past week.

Police issued the following Burglary prevention tips: 

• Don’t leave windows open or unlocked when the house is unoccupied.
• Lock rear gates when not in use, most burglars will break into your house from the rear where they are less visible to people on the street.
• Prune overgrown shrubbery which may hide windows and doors.
• Do not leave valuables in bureau drawers in the master bedroom; this is the first place where a burglar will look.
• Take close up pictures of your jewelry. Videotape the interior of the house and keep a copy at another location.
• Write down the make, model and serial number of your property. Mark other valuables with an identifying number to help us in tracking down your stolen items.
• Have interior lights and a radio/television on timers which go on and off at varying times of the day.
• Do not have packages left on the front step all day: if you cannot stay home arrange for a delivery time or have a neighbor take in the package.
•  Have a neighbor watch your house if you’ll be away.
• Don’t publicize your absence from the house on the internet or on voicemail.
• Consider installing an alarm and post alarm signs around the perimeter of your residence.
• Eliminate the outside mailbox, by inserting a mail slot in the front door or the garage door. This not only helps prevent burglaries but also hinders identity theft.
• Have outside doors of solid core wood or metal clad; steel doors and frames are the most secure while hollow core doors with wood frames are easily kicked in.
• Replace the strike plate screws with longer steel screws that go through the doorjamb and into the door frame.
• Use deadbolts with at least a one-inch throw thereby making the mechanism more difficult to pry or kick open.
• Ensure that sliding doors have metal pins or a metal bar installed to prevent them from being pried open.
• Install outside motion detection lights at the corners of your home and high enough so that the intruder can’t unscrew the bulb.
• If buying a safe make sure it is of good quality. Many safes that people buy are fire safes which are easily broken into. Bolt down the safe so a burglar can’t carry it away.  

 The 7th precinct also issued tips on protecting your car: 

• Always lock your car door even in your driveway. Criminals usually break into cars late at night when people are sleeping and it is harder to spot them in the dark. 
• Remove the keys, because one fifth of all car thefts are caused by leaving the car unattended while the engine is running.
  
• Never leave valuables such as laptops, wallets, backpacks, purses, IPods, GPS systems in plain view. If you must leave items in the auto, lock them out of view in the trunk. 
• Don’t leave the GPS unit on the windshield. Take off the GPS mounting bracket and wipe off the suction cup residue. If a criminal sees the mounting bracket or the suction cup ring on the windshield they know that the unit is probably in the car. 
• Criminals also watch you drive up to gyms, parks, malls, running tracks, etc.  They notice when you arrive at your destination and see you put valuables under the seat or in the trunk of the car. As soon as you walk away the thieves will break into the car and steal the valuables. To deter criminals from breaking into your unoccupied auto, carry the valuables with you or put the items into the trunk before you arrive at your destination.
  
• Park the car in a well-lit, busy parking lot or a lot with an attendant. Park your car in your garage or lighted driveway. Do not leave your insurance cards, registration or title in the glove box. Leave the originals in a safe place and only carry the copies in your wallet.
  
• If you see suspicious activity immediately call 911. Tell the 911 operator everything that you see and stay on the phone until the operator tells you to hang up.