While vehicle burglaries are an ongoing problem throughout town, they don’t have to be, according to Chief Lee Lieber.
Taking a look at the Moorestown Township Police Department’s Nixle alerts, three recurring themes quickly emerge: weather alerts, roadwork updates and burglaries. While the first two are something of an inevitably, the third doesn’t have to be for residents.
In February, Moorestown and the surrounding areas were experiencing a string of overnight car burglaries. In March, a Moorestown residence on East Oak Avenue was broken into resulting in the theft of $15,000 in jewelry.
“We have fortunately not had many residential burglaries, though residents should not let their guard down,” Lieber said. “Vehicle burglaries are an ongoing problem throughout our area.”
Moorestown’s officers have caught two of the vehicle burglars within the past two months. Lieber said, historically, these break-ins can be easily prevented by locking your car. He said burglars will typically move on in their search for an unlocked vehicle, but nothing is an absolute. He said some burglars will break windows as a last resort.
The police department, with the help of the Mt. Laurel Police Department, has compiled an array of burglary prevention tips to help keep residents safe — the first of which involves house checks.
Residents should contact police to schedule a house check if they’re going to be away for an extended period of time. They should also arrange to have their lawn mowed, and they shouldn’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or fliers to build up while they’re away. Residents are encouraged to make arrangements with the Post Office to hold their mail or ask a friend or neighbor to grab it for them.
Lieber said the department advises people to “make your home look occupied and make it difficult for people to break in.” He said residents shouldn’t tempt thieves. This means always locking garden sheds and other outdoor buildings; keeping items like lawnmowers and barbeques stored out of sight and using curtains on garage or basement windows.
When it comes to locks, homeowners should change them immediately if their keys are lost or stolen, and when moving into a new home, residents should have all the locks changed. Residents should never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other secret hiding places because burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
It’s important for residents to have adequate exterior lighting. The department recommends motion-sensitive lights for the outside perimeter. Residents should also trim their trees and shrubs, so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
In terms of alarms, the department advises residents to make several inquiries to different companies to find the best security system to find their needs. Most importantly, residents with an alarm system need to use it.
“Many individuals have alarm systems, but do not arm them because it is inconvenient. Many burglars know this and will not be deterred by a window sticker or sign indicating that the home has an alarm system,” Lieber said.
Should the worst ensue and your home is broken into, residents should not enter, in case the perpetrator is still inside, and should call police right away. Victims should not touch anything inside until the police have inspected it for evidence, and they should take note of any suspicious vehicles or people making sure to write down their license plate number.
To prevent car burglaries, residents should not leave car doors unlocked, garage doors ajar or windows/sunroofs open. The department encourages residents to take personal valuables like cellphones, GPS devices, laptops, purses and wallets with them when they exit the vehicle.
Lieber said Moorestown’s crime prevention officers are available to meet with residents to discuss suggestions and other concerns residents may have. Residents interested in doing so can contact Lieber at [email protected].
Residents can allow follow Moorestown Police on Twitter at @Moorestown_PD and can sign up for Nixle community notifications. Lieber said the department utilizes these platforms to provide prompt notifications to residents about emergent crime and weather incidents.
