Holiday Safety

The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year; it’s a time for families to gather, for friends to rekindle, and for traditions to continue. Christmastime is the best time of the year for not only you and your family, but for burglars too.

You’ve heard me say this time and time again, my favorite fortune cookie once read, “Society prepares the crime, the Criminal commits it!” It's that time of year again when our department sees a slight increase of thefts. For those not willing to respect their fellow citizen, they turn to stealing the property of others.  Take a few minutes today and ensure that you and your property are protected.

To prevent theft at home, residents should keep doors and windows closed and locked whenever possible.  Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate, and sliding glass doors should be made extra secure by placing a metal or wooden rod in the track. Residents should keep the door to an attached garage locked and not rely on a garage door for security.  Make it a habit to check all doors before retiring for the night.  During this time of year, have a trusted neighbor collect mail, packages and newspapers while you are away from home.  Closing blinds and shades on windows so criminals cannot look inside.  Create the illusion you are home using timers on inside and outside lights and electronics.

Lock your vehicles when parked.  Did you know that some insurance policies don’t cover thefts from unlocked vehicles, forcing victims to file a claim on their homeowner policy?   Do not leave valuables in your car.  Stow charging cables for phones and other electronic devices as not to imply electronics may be in the vehicle. For those that are using GPS devices, stow the dash or window mounts. Thieves are looking for easy targets.  Don’t help them out!

Lock your outbuildings, sheds and storage buildings as well.  Inexpensive alarm systems and lighting can be a deterrent for a would-be thief.   Most home improvement and big box stores have plenty of options. 

Exterior lighting can be a deterrent.  With today’s technology, “exterior illumination” can be the deciding factor on the actions of the thief.  Solar lighting is very reasonable in price, especially if you don’t have to run underground wiring and install fixtures.  Most home improvement and big box stores have plenty of options.  

As you probably have noticed over the past few years, camera technology has come a long way.  Many homeowners have exterior and interior camera systems installed.  Our department has been able to solve many crimes using the pictures as evidence. Some are IP based, which captures video or images locally on the camera to a SD card and also sends it up to a secure “cloud” account for future use. Some have the capability to text or email you if movement is detected on the camera in the event you’re not home.  These can purchased online at a very reasonable price and are very easy to install.  Some residents have purchased deer cams that run on small batteries and can be secured to all sorts of objects inside or outside the home and are usually very weather/heat proof.

Last but not least, let me mention ATV theft prevention.  Here are a few tips to lessen the chance of being a victim. Separate the key from the ATV. This simple step prevents ride-away theft.  Consider aftermarket options such as a disc lock, which prevents wheels from moving without a key. These are very inexpensive and very effective. Check with our local ATV dealerships for what options are best for your ATV.

Wishing you all the merriest Christmas season.  Let us all be thankful.  We are truly a blessed country.

Merry Christmas Lee County!

Sheriff Tracy Carter