The Reporter newspaper, Camdenton Missouri

The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published December 5, 2018

Morgan County sheriff offers tips to deter thieves

MORGAN COUNTY – This is the time of the year when many families will stock up on Christmas gifts and it also can be a goldmine for thieves looking for an easy target.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department (MCSD) recently released some tips to help keep you from being one of those targets.

Protecting your home from the outside

• Walk around the outside of your home and check for potential weaknesses

The best way to protect your home from the outside is to survey it with the eyes of a burglar. If you can easily tell that a window could be pried open, a thief will definitely be able to come to the same conclusion. While you’re checking for vulnerable spots, take note of any expensive electronics, art, or furniture that is easily spotted through the windows.

You don’t have to redecorate your entire home to keep expensive items out of sight, but it doesn’t hurt to make small adjustments where you can. No need to tempt thieves any more than you have to!

• Keep shrubbery around entrances and walkways trimmed

The last thing you want is to make it easier for a thief to hide when attempting to break in, so eliminate his options for hiding spots. He may only need a few minutes of cover to make his entry but with no place to hide while doing it, he’s less likely to even try. You could even plant thorny shrubs by your windows to make it not only difficult to break in, but painful.

• Stow expensive items like grills, cars and bikes in the garage

Though it may seem like a hassle to roll out the grill for every barbecue, leaving it out makes it an easy target for thieves. They don’t even have to enter your home to grab it, and if it’s got wheels it can be a breeze to sneak away with.

If your area only offers street parking, always lock your car and be sure to park in a well-lit area.

• Use curtains on garage and basement windows

Chances are these areas don’t need the sunlight, so put up curtains or blinds for privacy and protection. Stowing your outdoor valuables only does so much good if they’re constantly on display.

• Install motion sensitive lighting around your home especially at entrances

Shine a spotlight on a potential intruder before he can even touch your doors or windows by adding extra lighting with motion detectors at entrances and especially dark corners of your home.

• Get to know your neighbors

Crime tends to be lower in tight-knit communities because neighbors are more likely to look out for each other and can easily spot a stranger. Your neighbors can be one of your best assets in home crime prevention because they offer extra eyes and an outside perspective.

Plus if they have a different work or school schedule from yours, they might be around during the day when you’re away and can alert you to any suspicious activity that may occur in your absence.

• Keep your yard free of toys, tools and ladders

A yard littered with toys signals to a thief that the house may be filled with equally interesting entertainment, like game consoles, tablets, or laptops. A ladder or toolbox left out even briefly for an afternoon can give an opportunistic thief help in gaining access to your house.

• Prune trees around two-story homes

A determined crook may scale a tree and break into an upstairs window if branches are long enough to give him access. If you have a second floor, trim back tree branches to prevent a cat burglar from making his move.

• Consider forming a neighborhood watch program

This will give you the opportunity to get to know your neighbors better and create an invaluable awareness and commitment to crime prevention in your area.

You can speak to your local law enforcement agency about giving your group an informal lecture that can provide insight into identifying a suspicious person and what to do if you spot one loitering on your street, how to recognize a burglary in progress, how to recognize an auto theft in progress, and what to do in an emergency.

• Keep fences, gates and garage doors locked

It’s worth investing in a quality padlock for each outside entrance, even if you only lock it at night. However, since most friends and family won’t mind calling ahead to let you know they’re visiting, it’s best to leave them locked at all times. Never leave your garage door open if you aren’t in it or outside and able to keep an eye on it.

• Install large reflective numbers on your house and mailbox

This makes it easier for Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS agencies to identify your home in the event of an emergency. Burglars prefer dark houses difficult to identify by address as it can buy them crucial spare moments in the event they’re caught in the act.

Use easy to read numbers and not a script-style. Reading a scripted address takes longer for emergency personnel that just seeing large, easy to read numbers.

Protecting your home from the inside

• Keep all doors and windows locked at all times

An open exterior window or door is an invitation for burglars to easily enter your home, so keep them shut and securely locked whether you’re home or not. Don’t underestimate strong window locks, and update them if needed. Thieves know how to spot weak locks that would be easily forced open.

Make sure exterior doors have deadbolt locks. Sliding doors should have vertical bolts and a metal or wooden rod in the track to prevent being forced open or doors being lifted off the track.

Never leave your home without locking the front door, no matter how brief your trip. Even if it’s pouring rain, don’t forget to take the extra moment to lock up. Burglars don’t take days off due to weather.

And don’t forget the door attached to the garage. It’s one of the easiest targets and a likely route of entry. Don’t depend on your automatic garage door for full security.

• Put timers on lights

Select a few rooms in your house to remain lit to reduce the chances that any thief casing the neighborhood will notice that you’ve been gone.

Have outdoor lights, especially around entrances, set to light up every evening. A bright house welcomes friendly guests, but a dark house welcomes undesirable visitors.

• Reinforce your windows with safety glass or metal bars

It may seem an extreme step but burglars will often break a small window in order to gain entry. Make it impossible for them to break through by installing safety glass or impossible to squeeze through by installing metal bars.

There are plenty of decorative options for metal grills that can make the adjustment both practical and aesthetically-pleasing.

• Consider buying a home security system

There are countless features with any security system and some particularly valuable ones are outdoor motion detectors, sensors at exterior doors, windows, and the door attached to the garage, an outdoor alarm to alert other neighbors to an intrusion, and security cameras.

Select the features that best fit your needs and be sure to go with a well-known, reputable company. Once it’s installed, make it a regular habit to use it.

Though it may seem inconvenient to have to arm the system every time you leave the house, many burglars are aware that the responsibility is often neglected and may not be deterred by window stickers or yard signs warning of home protection.

Do your best to learn and inform your family about the security system to cut down on false alarms. You don’t want to have a boy-who-cried-wolf effect where your neighbors eventually learn to ignore your alarm anytime it goes off.

Protecting your home while on vacation

• Double- and triple-check all doors and windows before you leave

Make sure your house is as locked-up and secure as it can be in your absence. (Don’t forget the door leading to the garage). Be sure to leave some curtains and blinds open to give the illusion that someone is around. Thieves tend to take note of a house that’s clearly been closed up.

• Don’t advertise your trip

It’s pretty common for people to post all about their upcoming trip on social media but avoid the urge. The more people who know your house will be empty, the more you open yourself up to the possibility of a break-in.

Similarly, don’t leave a message on your landline answering machine that you’re out of town.