October 2011 meeting - SPECIAL SPEAKER –
Detective Hunter, Delray Beach Police Department
22 in attendance heard the Detective speak about the
concerns of Coral Trace Community. He spoke about a
report kept at the police station on the amount of
incidents reported to the police department. From 1-1-11
til 10-17-11, we had eleven burglaries, two vehicle
break-ins, one garage open, one shutters taken off the
house, one attempted burglary, four rear sliders opened,
people coming over the wall on East Coral Trace.
SAFETY TIPS - see below also
- Lock vehicles.
- If someone doesn’t
look like they should be in Coral Trace call the police,
non-emergency #.
- If you purchase a new
TV or other appliances, break up the box, don’t set it
outside of your home to let everyone know what you just
purchased. The people breaking in look for those type of
things on garbage days.
- Turn on alarms.
- Put
a bar of PVC in the track of your back sliding glass
door.
- Form a citizen patrol
for each block or for around the community.
- If you leave town for
vacation or to go back north, call the Police Department
and ask if they will patrol around your home while you
are out of town.
- If you see a moving
truck in the community at a home not to be moving in or
out, call the Police.
- Main message is to be
aware of what is going on in Coral Trace, and contact
the Police when needed.
Report suspicious sightings
at Police Dep't. Crime Tips Number: 561-243-7839
DELRAY BEACH POLICE
DEPARTMENT HOME SAFETY TIPS
INSIDE YOUR HOME:
- Always lock your
doors, even when you are in your home. You may be at
the rear of the home and not hear what may be
happening at the front of your house.
- Always keep your
garage door closed. If you are not in your garage or
yard keep this door closed. You’ll never hear
activity in your garage when you are in your house.
Lawn equipment, bicycles, tools, etc. become
vulnerable to theft. The door leading from the
garage into the home is a favorite entry point for
burglars.
- Always use your
alarm when not home. You can use it when you are at
home too if you wish. It provides an extra layer of
security either way.
OUTSIDE YOUR HOME:
- Keep shrubs
trimmed away from windows. This allows you to see
what’s going on outside and prevents thieves from
using this growth to their advantage.
- Maintain quality
lighting around the exterior of your home.
Especially in areas of the home that may be more
susceptible to break in.
- Don’t leave lawn
tools or equipment in side or back yards. This helps
the burglar facilitate his crime against you or your
neighbors.
- Display your
house number prominently and keep it well lit. This
assists emergency personnel when they have to
respond to any form of an emergency.
WHILE AWAY:
- Don’t publicize
the fact that your house will be sitting empty for
any extended period of time.
- Instead of
canceling your paper or mail deliveries, ask a
neighbor to assist you by picking them up, saving
and recycling these while you are away.
- If you are going
to be gone for an extended period, make arrangements
to have your lawn maintained. Burglars know that an
unkempt lawn that is normally well kept is a sign
that residents are away.
- Use timers to
turn lights on and off throughout your home at all
hours while you are away. A lived in appearance is a
deterrent to burglars.
- Leave drapes in a
normal position to assist with this lived in look.
- Turn phone
ringers down. Constant ringing is a sign that a home
is unoccupied.
- Ask a neighbor to
occasionally park in your driveway.
- Never leave
lights on in your home 24 hours a day while you are
gone.
Always call the Police
when you observe suspicious activity, wherever you are.
Report suspicious sightings
at Police Dep't. Crime Tips Number: 561-243-7839
- Here is a
suggested format for a Home Inventory Sheet for your
valuables -
creating this
spreadsheet will help in event of burglary for
report to insurance company
ITEM DESCRIPTION SERIAL # COLOR YEAR PURCHASED COST
-
note from Editor
(who filed claim for burglary in 2010): also
record Manufacturer, Model #, store where purchased,
proof of purchase
- suggestion from
Editor - consider investing in a safe deposit box
for your sentimental and valuable jewelry and
small valuables. I got one, tho I had to open a checking account
(minimum balance of $100). Not
convenient, but more peace of mind.
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