Are You Inviting Thieves to our Neighborhood?

by Kimberly Jahnke Cole, TETNA contributorIn recent weeks, there have been several complaints of suspicious activity in the TETNA neighborhood – unknown individuals looking in car windows and walking down driveways in search of unlocked vehicles and open garage doors.“It has been brought to my attention by 3rd shift Officers that theft from vehicles is making a comeback in the City of Wauwatosa,” said Laura Laurishke, Community Support Division, Wauwatosa Police Department. “In almost all of the cases the cars were left unlocked with some desirable items inside including satellite radio receivers, laptops and GPS units.”According to the police department, burglary is an upsetting crime for victims. The invasion of ‘safe’ areas, such as a home or vehicle, result in feelings of vulnerabilityFortunately, there are steps residents can take to reduce their odds of becoming a burglary victim.Criminals have three motivations, according to police: desire, ability and opportunity. As residents, we can protect ourselves by removing the opportunity for a crime to occur. And we can protect our neighbors by keeping our eyes and ears open and contacting the police when we notice something suspicious.The Wauwatosa Police Department provided the following tips for TETNA residents to keep their property safe and secure.

For your car:

• Never leave anything of value in your vehicle
• Remove portable electronic devices (MP3 players, GPS systems), as well as cords and other accessories
• If you must keep valuables in your vehicle, hide them from plain sight – under a seat, in the glove compartment
• Don’t keep money, even loose change, in your car
• Park in a well lit area; install exterior lighting for your driveway
• Always lock your vehicle doors

For your home and garage:

• Leave exterior lighting on around the home during all hours of darkness. Use compact fluorescent bulbs – they are energy efficient and provide great facial and color recognition without bothering neighbors
• Lock all doors and windows when you are sleeping or away from home
• Pin open windows so they cannot be opened more than four inches.
• Never keep purses, laptops, briefcases, wallets or other items of value in view from windows
• Mount security bars on basement windows. (If your basement is used as living space, please refer to fire codes, as you are required to have an escape window or door.)
• Replace entrance doors with solid wood or metal doors. Install with hinges on the inside of the building or use security hinges.
• Install dead bolts (Grade 1 or Grade 2) with at least a 1-inch throw and beveled housing.
• Use 3-inch screws on all lock strike plates (the metal plate that a dead bolt or door knob bolt goes into) Longer screws prevent kicking or ramming a door in.
• Consider replacing exterior door knob locks with those that have a “dead latch” mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card.
• Pin the top and bottom of sliding glass doors, as you would with a double-hung window. Install a Charley Bar, a fold-away metal bar.
• Use 3-inch screws and all included brackets and mounts when installing a window unit air conditioner. Make sure you mount the air conditioner onto the window frame.
• Trim landscaping to a height that does not provide a hiding place for would-be thieves. Landscape lighting is a great supplement to exterior lighting.
• Don’t leave boxes from big-ticket or highly-desirable items at the curb for trash pickup. Discard boxes at the Recycle Drop-off Center, 11100 W. Walnut Road.
• Keep garage doors and garden sheds closed.
• Leave a radio and interior light on while you are away from home for long periods.
• Display a sign for your neighborhood’s Block Watch in a prominent window. If you don’t have a Block Watch, consider starting one today.