A recent run of burglaries has Remington residents on edge.
The burglars are getting in mostly using one of two methods.
1) Unlocked rear or kitchen windows: Windows are an easy target if they are unlocked. In many of the burglaries, the thief got in through an unlocked rear window.
Especially newer styles of vinyl and aluminum windows can appear to be latched without really being secure. This is often the result of the top pane having slipped down by an inch or two unnoticed. If that happens, the latch on the lower pane will rotate or flip into the locked position without actually engaging. Make sure both window panes are fully closed and that the locking mechanism fully engages. Window bars mounted to the exterior or to the interior window frame are effective at preventing this type of forced entry.
2) Kicking in doors: A strong enough kick can break some doors or doorframes. In several of the burglaries, the perpetrator simply kicked the door in.
This type of break in is hard to protect against. But a properly selected and installed door will be more resistant and a less-attractive target. Make sure you have an exterior-grade door made from solid wood or steel. Secure your doorframe directly to the brick, using long masonry screws to attach the deadbolt strike plate. Home centers also carry a variety of attractive steel security doors, which are similar to screen door but with a metal lattice or grid. A kick attack is mostly ineffective against this type of door.
Light strongly deters would-be-burglars. If you have lights on your front and back porch, turn them on every night. Use a timer or photocell to automate them. Exterior lights can be cheaply added to any house; your local hardware store can help find the right solution for your home.
The police have retracted the report they made at the November GRIA meeting that they had made an arrest connected to the burglaries. A suspect was caught in a stolen car with goods inside supposedly stolen from Remington homes. But the police now say the car was not from Remington and they are not sure about the stolen items.
**Check out this free 35 minute webinar on burglary suppression and target hardening from the National Crime Prevention Council.
