Burglary Prevention Tips From Morristown Police

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Following several burglaries or break-ins in neighboring Morris Township, Morristown police want residents to know how to keep their homes secure. Some tips might be familiar to you, but they've also shared some you probably haven't though of.

Here are tips, as written by police:

Ensuring motion-sensored lighting around your residence: Burglars are usually discouraged by these lights. When the lights go off, it gives them a chance to run away from the bright lights before you catch them trying to enter your house. This is also a great way for you to know when someone is approaching your home.

Placing interior lights on a timer: Just because you aren't home doesn't mean that you should keep all the lights off at all times. Set a timer and have the lights go on and off at specific times so that it looks like your home is being occupied. Many burglars study when people exit and enter their homes to plot their next move. By setting up these timers and lights to go on and off, it'll throw them off.

Removing packages and mail from the front of your residence: Don’t let people even think that you are not home. Removing items from the front of your residence will help show that somebody is at home.

Never leave anything important in your vehicle: Yes, even if the doors are locked! Thieves can break through the windows to take your belongings if they feel motivated enough. So, don't give anyone any reason for them to target your car. Even if it's something as simple as a blanket - by leaving this out in the open, thieves may think that the blanket exists in there to hide something valuable beneath it. By keeping your car completely clear of your possessions, it will not only save you the trouble of recovering your valuables and the inconvenience of having to fix broken car windows. To be extra safe, lock up your car's compartment and trunk from the inside as well. This way, if someone is able to somehow get in the car, they aren't able to go through these parts of the vehicle.

Locking all vehicle and home doors: This seems like the most basic of tips but you would be surprised at the number of people who leave doors unlocked. Take a few extra minutes and make sure you protect yourself and your valuables.

Keep vacation dates off of social media: With social media being such a large part of our lives today, it's only natural to want to share the excitement of an upcoming vacation. However, by doing so, you are essentially setting yourself up as a target for burglars. Criminals in the past have relied on public social media profiles like Facebook and Instagram to stalk and intrude homes while residents are away.

Get to know the people in your neighborhood: Being able to recognize who lives in your neighborhood goes a long way in recognizing when there is a suspicious person in the area. Be aware of your neighbor's habits, such as when they are generally at work, if they have small children or teenagers, if they are elderly and may need extra assistance from time to time. This awareness will make the neighborhood a much tighter community, and everyone will be able to better prevent crime.

Anyone who notices anything suspicious in their neighborhood should call Morristown Police at 973-538-2200 or the Morris Township Police at 973-539-0777. If you think you're witnessing a crime, call 911.

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