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This
Month's Focus:
Keep It Hidden and Keep It Safe
 Thefts
from vehicles are statistics that are difficult to track. Not
classified as vehicle thefts or stolen cars, they are considered
property crimes and are usually lumped in with other crimes such
as home burglary, robbery, etc. The fact is that in 2009, police
departments in Allegheny County alone reported over four-hundred
thefts from locked vehicles and in most cases, the thefts
weren’t random with thieves hoping to get something after
breaking in. The victims left valuables out in the open for the
bad guys to see.
Over
the course of the 2009 summer, the Allegheny County police, who
patrol the parks, took dozens of reports from victims who had
valuables taken from their cars at the Wave Pool lots. In
addition to these calls, the City of Pittsburgh Police as well as
Port Authority Police Department answered dozens of calls from
those who were victims in the area’s Park and Ride Lots and
other public parking lots and garages.
Among
the items reported stolen most frequently include cell phones,
GPS units, cameras, portable DVD players, MP3 players, and radar
detectors. According to a study conducted by a major insurance
carrier, thefts from locked vehicles have increased 22%
nationwide since 2005 even though thefts of vehicles themselves
have not significantly changed. Most of these thefts occurred by
perpetrators breaking a vehicle’s window, commonly known as
“smash and grabs”.
Of
course the best way to keep your valuables safe is to limit
their availability to those who want what you have. For example:
Keeping your GPS unit in your vehicle only while on a trip or
when it is needed to drive to an unfamiliar area. If you don’t
need it… don’t take it. If, however you do need to keep
electronics and valuables in your car, here are a few
suggestions that may help keep you from becoming a victim.
1. When away from your
vehicle, always roll up your windows and lock all doors.
2. Keep all of your
possessions out of sight. This includes not leaving items on the
Seats, open consoles, cup holders, etc.
3. When removing items from
view, don’t forget to remove all evidence as well. This includes
power cords, mounting brackets, suction cups, etc. Remember, the
rings left on the windshield by the suction cups of your GPS
mount telegraphs that there is a high ticket electronic device
in the vehicle.
4. Always try to park in a
well-lit place or a high traffic location. i.e.: When parking in
a garage, avoid the remote corner and park near an entrance or
elevator where there is a lot of foot and vehicle traffic.
5. Never leave any important
documents in your car such as wallets, mail, or financial
information.
6. Whenever possible, avoid
keeping items, bags and purchases in the driver or passenger
compartments of your vehicle. For storing smaller items,
consider purchasing a portable vehicle safe. These safes work
well as they are secured to the vehicle itself such as being
bolted to the inside of the trunk. They are heavy duty, come in
many sizes and, properly installed, nearly bad guy proof. These
safes are available from a few manufacturers including Stack-on
and Winner International, the maker of the Club.
The
more you know… the safer and more secure you can be!
Previous
Articles:
Home Security: Protect Your
“Stuff”
 Protecting
your home and possessions doesn’t have to break the bank
and there are many simple steps that you can take to make your
house unappealing to burglars and thieves. In any situation,
thieves want the
easy way to take something. If it appears too hard or too risky
to break into your home, bad guys are more likely to move on to
easier pickings. Here are a few suggestions that may help you
keep what
belongs to you.
1.)
Landscaping does add beauty and value to your home but the
placement of some greenery can create obstructions. Many people
have trees and shrubbery planted too closely to doors and
windows. If your view to the street is obstructed, so also is a
potential burglar obstructed. Behind a large hedge or tree, a
bad-guy could be hidden from the view of your neighbors and
patrolling police.
2.)
Check your property for items left lying about that can be
utilized by bad guys. Ladders are often left unsecured or even
extended and against the house. Ensure that there are no trees
growing too closely to the house as a short and easy climb may
give access to the second floor. If you use one of those hidden
key-type fake rocks to keep a key near a door, remember that
thieves also know what these tools look like.
3.)
Take a good look at
the locks that are on your doors. If there are glass panels in
the doors themselves or beside them, as many decorative front
doors have, be sure to use what is known as a “key in, key out”
lock and not the turn-type deadbolt mechanism. At night, remove
the key and place it near the door but not within the reach of
an arm extending through a broken window. The down side to this
system is that it does not make for a fast escape in the event
of a fire or medical emergency.
4.)
Video and camera systems are more available and do sell for less
than they did 10 years ago but peepholes are still a good idea.
The installation of a peephole enables you to see who is at your
door without opening the door itself. Just remember, if you have
children make sure that they can see through it or consider
installing a second at their eye level.
5.)
Good exterior
lighting is always a good idea. The two things that thieves and
burglars hate the most are bright lights and the sound of a
barking dog. Motion lights are great but make sure that they are
out of reach and too high to be tampered with.
6.)
If you are
considering an alarm system, remember these important facts:
Shop smart. Many, if not all alarm monitoring companies, offer
specials and discount deals. They want to sell you the monthly
monitoring service so don’t be afraid to negotiate what hardware
comes with it. Systems include door and window contacts and a
keypad. Odds are, if you ask for additional contacts or a
keypad, you may get it at no additional charge. Do your home
work and ask questions about response time as well. For this,
talk with your neighbors or the police as they can guide you.
Beware of false alarm set-offs. Many municipalities will give
you some false alarm calls but will then charge you for any
additional false alarms.
7.)
I am often asked: “I thought I heard something the other
night, should I have called the police?” My answer is always
ABSOLUTELY!
No matter where you
live, there are officers on patrol who are tasked with keeping
you safe. Never hesitate to call the police if you hear noises
or see a suspicious person or vehicle.
8.)
People also often ask me what kind of gun I recommend for home
protection. If you have children in the house or are unfamiliar
with firearms, my answer is always
“NONE.”
I have always believed that the best home defense tool has four
legs and a loud bark. Dogs are great security devices and pretty
loyal friends as well. It doesn’t have to be a big or mean dog,
just a noisy one.
These security
measures are a great start for protecting your valuables but you
also need to prepare for the worst: A catastrophic loss. I
suggest that everyone take an inventory of your household
possessions. There are computer software programs available to
help you catalogue your valuables but it’s just as easy to do it
yourself.
Record all of your
electronics including the brand name, model, serial number and
date purchased. Don’t forget your computers, printers,
telephones, cell phones, cameras and your car’s GPS. Remember
also to photograph your items and, although you may enter the
item list on your computer or burn it to a disk, print out hard
copies. Put a copy in a fireproof safe and even give a copy to a
trusted friend or relative so that a record will survive a fire.
In the event of a catastrophic loss, you and your insurance
company will be glad you kept great records. Don’t forget
jewelry, valuable collections, and precious heirlooms.
A few simple
security measures can save you an endless amount grief.
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