Protecting property from theft

By Ruthanne Johnson
MONTE VISTA—With a population of only around 4,500 people, Monte Vista is by no means a big city. Even so, the city’s crime rate is surprisingly high. From mid-June to the first of July, for example, there were seven home and vehicle break-ins in town.
“Just because this is a small town, don’t think you can just leave your home unlocked,” said Monte Vista police chief John Rosecrans. “Our burglaries are actually higher here than state and national averages.”
And the crimes aren’t being committed by strangers passing through town. It’s mostly locals, Rosecrans said. “It’s unfortunate, but there’s definitely an element in this community that likes to steal from each other.”
Though Monte Vista’s burglaries are likely rooted in things such as drugs and unemployment, unsecured property and vacant homes help to create unnecessary opportunity for criminals. “About 90 percent of our burglaries are because of poorly secured residences, because the windows and doors have really poor locks or they aren’t locked at all,” Rosecrans said.
The good news is that there are simple and inexpensive steps you can take to prevent criminals from setting their sights on your property.
Think of home security like wearing layers of weather-protective clothing. Burglars typically determine their targets through risk-versus-reward scenarios, so the more security layers in place, the less likely criminals are to target a property.
Locking windows, doors and cars is fundamental, Rosecrans said. “Lock it down if you don’t want lose it.” Other things like sturdy doors and door frames and well-made window and door locks are also important— even reinforced steel doors can be neutralized by kicks if the lock doesn’t extend deep enough into the doorframe.
Deadbolts made by reputable companies are typically the toughest for burglars to pick. You may even want to install a secondary, one-sided deadbolt, which have keyed access from the inside. Other considerations are window pin locks and window and door alarms, which are affordable and relatively simple to install.  
Another important security measure is to have trusted neighbors keeping an eye out for you. “That’s what Neighborhood Watch is all about,” said Rosecrans, who remembers cases in Denver where burglars would pull up U-Hauls to houses and nobody in the neighborhood called the police. “It was insane— these criminals carrying TVs right out the front door.”
Neighborhood Watch is important in connecting neighbors with each other and encouraging community support and awareness to prevent property theft and other crimes. The group meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month in Monte Vista’s Chamber of Commerce/Information Center at 947 1st Avenue.
Rosecrans also advises trimming back vegetation around the home, especially windows and doors, to limit hiding places. “We have a lot of overgrown trees and grass around town, triangles and corners where there’s nothing but big bushes,” he said. “You may not want to see your neighbors. But guess what, your neighbors also can’t see you---and that can let the bad guys in.”
Good lighting and an alarm or outdoor camera system can help provide added protection. “General lighting and filling in the dark spots with motion-sensor lighting works great,” said Rosecrans, who outside of his own home has motion-sensor lights that operate only after dark. He bought the system for just $9 at one of the big box stores like Home Depot or Lowes. “It’s super easy— you just screw the unit into the light socket and then screw the bulb into the unit.”
It’s also a good idea to make it look like there’s activity in the house even when nobody’s home. Light timers can help give a home that lived-in look, especially by staggering timers so that when one light goes off, say in your living room, another light goes on a minute later in the bedroom. This gives the appearance that people are moving around.
Outdoor cameras can not only work as a deterrent, they can function as a warning system and even a forensic tool that police can use as evidence after a break-in. They are available online and in local hardware stores and come with features such as motion detection, night vision and video recording. Prices can range anywhere from $20 to $500 depending on the system, and most are relatively easy to install. There are also plenty of local companies that can install alarm and camera systems for a fee.  
When DIY installing an outdoor camera, consider the problems you’re likely to run into in your neighborhood. If car break-ins are common, point the camera at the driveway or street in front of your house. If home invasions are a concern, train the camera on windows and entryways.  
Also don’t forget the little things when it comes to keeping the burglars at bay. When you’re gone for more than a few days, stop your mail and have a friend or neighbor pick up your newspaper so it’s not obvious you aren’t home. “And when you buy a new TV, don’t throw away the box outside for everyone to see,” Rosecrans said. “You don’t want criminals passing to say, ‘Oh, look, they have a new 64-inch television.’”


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