Kitsap County Sheriff’s office recently investigated an early morning burglary in the Ridgetop area of Silverdale. Nothing was reported to be stolen, but the department included a prevention tip sheet.

Burglary prevention basics:
• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult in which to illegally enter.

• 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!  When temperatures increase, open windows enough for ventilation. Install locking devices that prevent windows from being opened fully.  Use room fans to assist with air flow.

• 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.

• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.

• Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors, especially doors from the house into a garage.  Remember to lock your doors at all times!

• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.

• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.

Don’t tempt a thief:   
• Always lock your garden sheds and garages.

• Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.”

Locks… get the best:  
• Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.  Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.

• When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Targeting the outside:  
• 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.

• Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

Windows:
• Most windows can be pinned for security.

• Drill a 3/16″ hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:
• 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.

• Make inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.  If your home is burglarized:

If you come home to find an unexplained open / broken window or door:  
• Do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside.

• Use a cell or a neighbor’s phone to call for law enforcement response.

• Do not touch anything or clean up until responding deputies have inspected for evidence.

• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.

• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

Other precautions you should take: 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, and 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.

Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number with an engraver. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.

Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary. Contact the sheriff’s community resource officer, Deputy Schon Montague, for additional information at (360) 692-7746.

The most important thing that you can do is call 9-1-1 to report a crime or any suspicious activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes.

Remember the three L’s of crime prevention:  Lights, Locks and the Law. Light up your residence, lock your doors at all times, and call the law (9-1-1) when you see something suspicious.