Police: Help Cops Reach You In the Event of a Burglary

By Newark Police

It's time to leave for work and we lock up the house and jump in the car and take off for the office.

As our home sits unoccupied during the day any number of problems could occur, from someone breaking in to a more common occurrence like a broken water pipe, damage from a storm or other non-criminal happenings.

If your neighbor noticed a problem would they know how to get a hold of you?

As close as neighbors can be (and we think they know us so well), they may not have the most important piece of information; your telephone number! Sure they have your house phone number, but can they get a hold of you when you're at work?

It’s a great idea to provide a trusted neighbor with your emergency contact telephone numbers. That way if there's a problem at your home of any type, they can let you know.

Speaking of neighbors, it's not uncommon for residents to provide their close friend/neighbor with a key to their residence (just in that rare chance you realize you locked the doors but forgot to take your keys!).

Certainly, you would only provide your most trusted neighbor/friend with a key, but are they taking as good care of it as you would expect? What if a burglar broke into their home and took your key?

To help protect your key, encourage your trusted neighbor to keep it in a well-hidden location in the home and to NOT put any identifying information on it such as a tag or a chain that would reveal it's the key to your home. This way, if it’s found or stolen it can't be used by a criminal to unlock your home.

To learn more about home security and to start a Neighborhood Watch in your area, please contact:

Tim Jones
Special Assistant
Community Engagement Division
Newark Police Dept.
(510) 578-4209
tim.jones@newark.org