Rash of Burglaries Prompts Statement from Norristown PD

A rash of burglaries throughout the borough has prompted the Norristown Police Department to release a statement reminding people how to protect their homes.

Norristown saw an average of 19 burglaries per month from January to April, but that number jumped to 31 in May. One week into June, there have already been 19 burglaries for the month, the release states.

The release states that the burglaries have been evenly distributed throughout the town, with many occurring during daytime hours while people are at work. Police have also seen a recent increase in late evening and early morning burglaries, according to the report.

Police are planning to increase their efforts, but even though they've made several arrests, the burglaries continue to occur, the release states. To help add to their efforts, police are asking that residents take the following basic security measures:

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors
• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the post office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
• Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
• Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
• Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
• An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.
• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places. Burglars know where to look for hidden keys. 
• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home. This is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
• Keep an eye on your neighbor’s residence. Report any suspicious activity to Police immediately.

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