Prevent Home and Car Burglaries

Tips for Preventing Home and Car Burglaries

There have been a number of recent car burglaries and thefts along the North Shore, including in Glencoe. In nearly every incident, car doors had been left unlocked by the owner, and in some instances keys were left inside. Please be sure to secure your home and vehicles at all times, and to always call 911 to report suspicious activity. If you see something, say something.

Follow these tips to help keep our community, homes and cars safe:

• Set an automatic timer for your lights.
• Lock all home and car doors – this is a must! Criminals look for easy targets and will often move past a locked car or home to find the one that is unlocked.
• Don’t leave valuables in plain sight – in your home or car.
• Put your house on House Watch with Public Safety and ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your property. Learn more about House watch here.
• Stop your deliveries, including newspapers and magazines, and ask the Post Office to hold or forward your mail.
• Use your burglar alarm each time you leave your home.
• If planning an extended trip, consider hiring a landscaper or asking a neighbor to mow your lawn in the summer or shovel your driveway in the winter. 

• Turn on lights or a radio or TV so it appears someone is home.
• Lock all doors and windows while you are out, even if it is just for a quick trip to the store or walk the dog.
• Never leave your purse or other valuables in your car. It takes a thief only moments to break in.
• Use your burglar alarm.

• Keep outside lights on and the exterior of your home well lit.
• Lock all home and car doors – again, this is a must!  
• Use your burglar alarm.
• Report unknown or suspicious cars, noises and people. Call 911! Don’t doubt yourself and follow your instincts. 
• If you have a home video surveillance system, make sure the system in on and operating properly.
• If you know of a neighbor that might have been a crime victim, check your home surveillance system and notify public safety of anything of evidentiary value your system might provide.

• Keep your door in plain view. Cut back overgrown plants and shrubs, which can serve as places for burglars to hide as they gain access to your home.
• Dead-bolts are the best option for all doors leading in or out of your home. Consider flush bolts for extra safety or consider using a door stop security system. This is a simple and inexpensive alarm that makes a sound if it gets moved.
• Lock valuables in a safe and make a precise list of valuable items and their approximate value.