Burglary Prevention Tips

As we approach the summer travel season, the Davidson Police Department wants to remind you to please take precautions to safeguard your home and property while you and your family are out of town. Burglars go through neighborhoods looking for uncut lawns and stuffed mailboxes. In the evening, they look for darkened houses or lights that have been left on too long. The following burglary prevention tips will help to make you and your family safer. Help us serve and protect Davidson together.

The Burglary Basics

  • Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors!
  • Leave the lights on when you leave home. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
  • Keep your garage door closed and locked.
  • Suspend daily deliveries of mail, newspapers, or flyers while you are away. Arrange with the U.S. Post Office to hold your mail or arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect the mail regularly.
  • Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time and have your trees & shrubs trimmed so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
  • Do not post your travel plans or real time vacation photos online. Real time posting alerts potential thieves that you are not home. Wait till you return to post those beautiful pictures!
  • Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Glass break sensors are available on most security systems to alert situations when criminals don’t open a door but gain entry through the glass.
  • Consider a home security system, including cameras, to deter thieves from attempting to enter your residence. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market for every situation and budget.
  • Install adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards, driveways, and approaches to the front door.

Don’t tempt a thief

  • Lawn mowers, weed eaters, barbecue grills, and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
  • Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
  • Use curtains on garage and basement windows.

If your home is broken into

If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door

  • Do not enter the home. Call 911 immediately.
  • Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have collected any available evidence.
  • Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
  • Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons, but do not approach anyone.

Other precautions you should take

  • 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, dates of purchase and original values, and serial numbers. Keep a copy of that inventory in a safe place away from the home. This is a good precaution in case of fire or other disaster. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
  • Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately.
  • Prepare a Home Security Check online HERE. Officers will check the exterior of your home and report any criminal activity immediately.

The most important thing you can do is call the police to report a crime or any suspicious activity. You are the eyes of your neighborhood! (Know that you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes.)