Below is a repost of information posted recently by Kentwood neighbor Joanna Sutton on NextDoor.
Thank you, Joanna, for your very comprehensive list of resources!
21 Things a Burglar Won’t Tell You
Reader’s Digest
13 tips from professional burglars on how to stop your house from being robbed
Metro News (U.K.)
We asked 86 burglars how they broke into homes: What burglars said were the biggest deterrents, what didn’t stop them and how you can protect your home
KVUE ABC (Austin, TX)
Crime Prevention Tips — Burglary
San Jose Police Department
Essential Crime Prevention Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Criminal Justice PhD – Information Guide
Property Crime Prevention
City of Palos Verdes Estates, Police Department
10 Simple Ways to Discourage Break-Ins
HowStuffWorks.com
Safety and crime prevention Tips
Sacramento Police Department
“Here’s what the LAPD says you should do if you encounter a knock knock burglar”
Daily News
“Don’t Be a Victim: Tips for Preventing a ‘Knock Knock’ Burglary”
Santa Clarita Gazette
BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS
Los Angeles Police Dept, Senior Lead Officer Philip Ruiz
http://www.lapdonline.org/
Several years ago, the Mission Hills Area was struck by a rash of “Knock knock home burglaries” involving the Knock Knock Burglary suspects. Though we haven’t had any recent incidents in Mission Hills involving these types of burglaries (knock on wood!), there has been several recent burglaries that have been occurring in the San Fernando Valley, involving the “Knock Knock Burglars”. It’s always best to be aware & prepared for such occurrences.
The Knock Knock Burglary suspects will typically knock on the front door or ring the doorbell to verify if anyone is home. When there is no answer, the suspects then enter the rear of the residence through a side gate or by jumping over a gate. Once in the rear of the residence, they will typically smash or pry a window or a glass door to gain entry inside the house. Once inside, the suspects are targeting the master bed room as well as other areas of the home and removing jewelry, cash, small valuables and small electronics. They then flee within a matter of minutes.
Here are some recommendations to help secure your home and harden the target:
MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU’RE HOME…Even when you’re not.
MAKE YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN: There has been several occurrences in which the resident was home but chose to ignore the door knock or door bell ring. The suspect thinking no one was home then forced entry through the rear of the residence only to be confronted by the homeowner inside. This could lead to a scary situation. If you are at home, make your presence known by looking out and talking through a window or even by talking through the locked front door. Just so that the person on the other end is aware someone is home.
SURVEILLANCE/SECURITY CAMERAS: Web based surveillance and doorbell camera systems will alert and allow homeowners to immediately view and monitor activity from any smartphone or computer which are motion sensor activated and will alert your device when there is activity. They will also lend valuable information and clues to the investigation.
ALARMS: Ensure that security alarms are in good working order and set when not at home whether leaving for 10 minutes or 10 hours. Accessible upstairs doors & windows should have alarm sensors and upstairs rooms should have motion sensors to include the master bedroom.
MOTION SENSOR LIGHTING: Install motion sensor lighting around your home to illuminate normally dark areas around the home. This will also alert residents to outside activity around the home when motion lights are activated.
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Monitor suspicious activities in your neighborhood and alert your neighbors. Should the activity escalate to a crime about to occur, crime in progress or crime that just occurred, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!
EMERGENCY: 911
NON-EMERGENCY: 1-877-275-5273
All other City Services: 311