Milwaukee Police Share Tips to Prevent Holiday Crime
HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME TO BE PREPARED
The holiday season is a time when busy people become careless and vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime. There have been a number of home and garage burglaries throughout Milwaukee. Follow these tips and be careful, prepared and aware.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
GARAGES: Make it more difficult to remove expensive items. Thieves often window shop by driving down streets and alleys looking at the contents of garages when owners leave doors open. Overhead doors should never unnecessarily be left open. The service door should be of solid core construction and equipped with a good deadbolt lock with a reinforcement plate. The strike plate for the lock should be mounted with screws at least 3 inches long.
LIGHTS ON:Burglars don’t want to be seen. Mount a light near your service door. Lighting is the least expensive security and it is very effective. Valuable items such as snowblowers, lawnmowers and mountain bicycles should be secured in the garage by chaining them to the garage wall or floor. The chain should be heavy duty with a padlock of equal strength. Smaller motorized garden tools can be secured in a lockbox.
WINDOWS AND DOORS. Install, maintain and use proper locks on exterior doors. Deadbolt locks are most effective. Close and lock your doors and windows when you leave home. Secure a partially opened window with a pin that prevents it from being raised beyond a few inches. Do not leave valuables such as purses, televisions and money in front of an open window.
SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH FAMILY, FRIEND AND NEIGHBORS
Do not leave valuables in plain view in your vehicle. When shopping, do not overload yourself with packages that would make it difficult for you to enter your car. Lock your packages in the trunk of the car. If you don’t have a trunk, make sure you cover your packages in the storage area of the vehicle. Plan your holiday shopping to take place over several days and shop for one or two people at a time. Avoid last minute shopping and be aware and alert to your surroundings.
WATCH YOU NEIGHBORS' PROPERTY AS WELL AS YOUR OWN
Engrave property kept in your home, as well as your outside property, including lawn and garden tools, with your Wisconsin Driver’s License or Wisconsin State I.D. number to aid in the return of your property if it is ever stolen. Make sure you record the serial number(s) and a description of the item(s). An electric engraver is available for use at any Milwaukee Police District Police Station. The Milwaukee Police Department does register bicycles for free.
CONSIDER FORMING / JOINING A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM
These programs are a great asset to your neighborhood, providing many “extra eyes” to assist the police in catching criminals. No one knows your neighborhood better than the residents who live there.
For more information regarding forming or joining a Neighborhood Watch Program, Crime Prevention or a Residential Security Survey contact your District Community Liaison Officer or contact the Community Services Division at 935-7905.
Together we can reduce crime, fear and disorder in our community.
EDWARD A. FLYNN
CHIEF OF POLICE