Avoid Being an Easy Target for Burglary

  • 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. Lock your doors, even if you are out of the house for a short time.
  • Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for more than a day or two, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
  • Keep your garage doors closed and locked.
  • Check your locks on doors and windows, and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
  • Push-button 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.
  • Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places - burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
  • Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home - this is also a good precaution in case of fire or other disasters.
  • Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms, and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
  • Mark your valuables for identification. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
  • Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
  • Never leave notes on your door such as "Gone shopping."
  • Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended.
  • Trim the shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
  • Join a Neighborhood Watch Group and come to the Block Watch Meetings at the Bloomfield Police Department.
  • Consider installing a burglar alarm system.
  • Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately. 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 you may remain anonymous.