Police Corner

Your home should be your castle, a place where you feel safe, the only environment where you have control over who can get close to you or your family. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The most common threat to your home is burglary. And even though burglary is a non-confrontational property crime, it leaves the victims feeling vulnerable and violated. To avoid becoming one of thousands of burglary victims, it is important that you follow a few steps:

1. Home burglaries involve a selection process that is quite simple. They choose unoccupied homes with easy access, good cover and the best escape routes. Therefore, what you should do is “harden the target.” Lock all of your doors — including not only your front door, but also the back door, shed or garage door and car doors. Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are too easy to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. Sliding glass doors are vulnerable to being forced open from the outside because of defective latch mechanisms. This can be prevented by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into the track to prevent movement.
2. An open window is an invitation for a potential burglar. Keep all the windows closed, even if you are leaving the house unoccupied for only a short time.
3. Be a good neighbor. Pick up the mail, inspect the outside and inside of the house, report any suspicious activity to the police. Allowing a neighbor to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside the door. Experienced burglars know to look for hidden keys under the doormats, in the flower pots or above the ledge. If you are not a year-round resident of Bethany Beach, enroll in the Residents Check Program so the police can periodically check on your home while you are away.
4. Interior and exterior lighting is very important. Interior lights show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. Exterior lighting allows you to see a potential danger and discourages a burglar afraid of being seen. A motion-sensitive light is very useful for backyards.
5. Think about investing in an alarm system. The reason why alarm systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. For as little as $1 a day you will have peace of mind, especially when you are away.
6. Trim the shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars.
7. We recommend that you photograph your valuables around your home and create a list of the make, models and serial numbers. This is very important for proof when filing insurance claims, as well as for identification during recovery.

If you come home to find an unexplained open or broken window or door, you might have been a burglary victim. You must remember:
1. Do not enter — the perpetrator may still be inside.
2. Call the police from your cell phone or use a neighbor’s phone.
3. Do not touch anything until the police arrive — you may destroy valuable evidence.
4. Write down the license numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
5. Remember the description of any suspicious person in the area.

The most important thing you can do is call the police to report the crime or any suspicious activity. You have to be the eyes of your community. Also remember that you can always remain anonymous.