We generally like to relax during the warmer months of the year, but criminals are never on vacation, so take a little time to protect your property and valuables with these commonsense measures.
Stop A Burglar
Keep all doors locked when you are outside working in the yard. Neighborhood Awareness
Keep a watchful eye to spot criminals and alert police to any unusual activity in your community. Got A Bike?
Lock it up when not riding it, and be sure to engrave it.
The Baltimore County Police Department is taking a proactive approach in alerting its citizens to certain crime trends that have occurred throughout the County in recent years. Unfortunately, this is the time when these types of crimes are known to occur.
Suspects, posing as legitimate workers, approach elderly homeowners at their residence with the intent of gaining entry under a seemingly legitimate role: local gas company, water department, cable company, tree trimmers, pavers, County inspectors, or government officials. One suspect will distract the homeowner while a second suspect will enter the home and search inside for valuables and cash.
Another type of ruse used to gain entry into the home is for a suspect to knock on the door and ask for a pen and piece of paper to leave the victim's neighbor a note. The suspect may appear to have difficulty writing the note, and will ask to come inside the house. Once inside the victim's house, the suspect will ask the victim to help write the note. As the suspect keeps the victim occupied, others enter the residence to remove money and valuables.
A variety of vehicles have been associated with these subjects including pick-up trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles.
Be particularly alert to anyone in your neighborhood looking to perform home repairs, or asking to gain entry into your home. Be sure to ask to see identification and let them know you are going to call and get authorization from their company before allowing them access. If they are legitimate, they won't mind the wait.
Remember, do not intervene, but call 911 immediately about suspicious activity.
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Warmer weather signals the arrival of things pleasant - like spring, and unpleasant - like burglars and con artists. Baltimore County Police are alerting residents to take precautions to safeguard their homes and property against these unwelcome visitors.
To prevent the chances of being victimized, residents are urged to observe the following precautions:
- Keep doors and windows locked - even if you will be out for only a short time.
- Request identification from utility representatives - true representatives carry it, and will gladly show it to you. Call their company for verification.
- Only rarely will legitimate home improvement companies solicit door-to-door. They usually distribute fliers or make phone calls - it's more cost effective for them.
- Never pay in cash. Using a check keeps a record of the transaction and often provides identification of the person cashing the check.
- Beware of excuses such as "We just finished a job around the corner and had extra materials that we could offer you at a discounted price." Professional companies do not operate in that manner.
- Call police immediately if you notice someone unfamiliar to the neighborhood or acting suspiciously.
Be aware of various ruses that have been used to gain entry, including posing as utility representatives, asking for a drink of water, looking for property that is for sale, or selling home improvement services. Also in years past, victims have been working in their yard while suspects entered through unlocked doors.
County police want you to have a safe and productive summer. By working with us and following these tips, we can ensure a good summer. Members of the community can request a free home security survey by calling their local precinct's Community Outreach Team.
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The Baltimore County Police Department reports that about one out of five burglaries in the County is through unlocked doors or windows. Stop these thefts. Lock up while you spruce up!
If you're out working in your garden these spring days, make sure you keep your doors locked. Carry a key with you and lock your front door and your back door. Some criminals specialize in stealing from homes when people are outside doing yard work.
When you finish with that yard work, remember to clean up and lock up behind you. When you put your rake and other tools in the shed, garage or basement, don't forget to lock the doors. An open door is an invitation to a thief. Deny criminals the opportunity to steal by securing your home and property.
And finally, if you do see anyone suspicious lurking around your neighborhood, dial 911, and let the police know. An officer can cruise through the area to check things out, and you don't need to provide your name: the call can remain confidential.
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Baltimore County Police are asking the public to remember that being a good neighbor can be one of the best crime prevention tools. This is particularly true at this time of the year when various criminals and con artists use the warm weather to take advantage of the elderly. Watchful eyes in the neighborhood can spot criminals and alert police and the community to their presence.
Spring is the time when "deception burglars" reappear in this region. Typically these are criminals on the move who begin working in the southern states and head north during the spring and summer to New England.
Deception burglars generally work in pairs. One member approaches the victim, pretending to be someone benevolent: perhaps a contractor looking for work or a utility worker out to test a system. The criminal may also pose as a family friend of a relative, or the friend of a neighbor. While that criminal distracts the victim, another moves through the house, seeking out valuables. Often the victim doesn't even know he or she has been victimized for hours or days.
Other criminals are con men, posing as contractors, who convince victims something is wrong with their home. They ask for payment in cash, do a shoddy job, and then disappear.
The elderly are the most likely targets of these criminals, since they tend to be trusting, and very concerned about their property, their relatives and their neighborhood.
Local residents can help their elderly neighbors by checking in on them, and keeping an eye on them. If, for example, a neighbor sees an elderly resident in conversation with a stranger, they could politely inquire about what is going on. If residents see strangers sizing up their neighbors' home, that could also be a sign something is wrong. In that case, a call to 911 will get an officer to the scene to check things out.
Involvement such as this builds stronger bonds between neighbors, and helps maintain safe neighborhoods.
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The Baltimore County Police Department wants to remind residents to lock their sheds and garages. Officials say the best deterrent to keep thieves from stealing your property is a lock and key. Don't assume you are safe from these unwanted people just because you are at home.
Oftentimes, burglars watch and wait to see where you are and what you are doing. Sheds and garages are often left open and unattended as we do yard work or other outdoor activities. The thief is counting on us to become lax in our security.
To avoid losing valuables, remember to close and lock doors to your garage, shed and home. This is especially true if you are in the front yard and the storage area is in the back. It takes almost no time for a thief to come and go with your property.
Take the time to reacquaint yourself with your old neighbors and meet the new ones. Why not suggest a neighborhood watch to protect and watch out for one another's property. Let your neighbors know when a suspicious person has been spotted in your area. Neighbors working together for each other's well-being are the foundation for a happy community.
Make life difficult for a burglar, use locks and keys to protect your property. If you see a suspicious person or notice an unusual situation around your house or that of a neighbor, call 911.
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This time of year we all like to let the fresh air into our homes. And as the warm summer months approach we need to remember some summer safety tips to avoid those pesky summer pests: burglars.
Here are a few recommendations from the Baltimore County Police Department's Burglary Unit:
- Never leave a patio door unlocked while away from home. Security experts recommend a security bar placed between the sliding door and the doorjamb. These bars are often referred to as "Charlie bars." Don't assume that the latch on the door is secure enough to ward off a thief. Lock the door at night as well to keep out unwanted guests.
- Always lock windows on the first floor or ground floor. This applies even if there is an enclosed or screened-in porch. It takes so little time and effort to cut through screen mesh and gain access to a home or apartment.
- Always secure windows and doors in the basement. It can be easy to forget about this area of the house during the summer months when we're running in and out doing chores.
Some other areas to lock up when not in use: those sheds and garages. When not using them, lock them. Thieves often wait for residents to leave the area, if only for a moment, to raid the shed or garage. And don't forget to lock the windows of the garage too. If there is an entrance to the house through the garage, a thief can enter your residence while you are out tending to the garden or washing your car.
Enjoy all that summer has to offer but don't let your house become a target for burglars.
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Baltimore County police are warning residents - especially the elderly and their relatives - to be aware that deception burglars are again at work, and have struck in some County neighborhoods. These criminals generally target senior citizens by deceiving and distracting the victim. In recent crimes, the suspects have posed as water department employees, BGE workers, or contractors pointing to a problem with a fence or a roof. These criminals have also been known to use a mother and child to deceive their victims.
While the victim is distracted by this member of the team, an accomplice slips into the house, going through it quietly looking for valuables and cash. The victim is outside, totally unaware of the deception.
All residents should take certain precautions if there is a stranger at the door. Never step outside of your house with someone you don’t know. Never allow a stranger to come into your house, even if it appears to be a person in trouble or someone claiming to be a friend of a neighbor. Be suspicious of utility workers who arrive unannounced. Utilities call ahead before they send over workers or technicians.
Residents should keep their house secure. Anyone worried about a suspicious stranger should call 911 right away with a description of the individual. Do not put off calling. Police need to know what is happening on your street right away.
Neighbors of the County's elderly can help as well, by watching what is going on outside the homes of seniors. Adult children of senior citizens should remind their parents of the possible dangers.
Investigators believe many deception burglaries don’t get reported. In some cases, victims may not even realize they’ve been victimized until long after the fact. Weeks later they might go looking for a piece of jewelry or a precious heirloom, and it’s just not there. In some cases, victims don’t report these incidents because they are embarrassed, or they fear retribution. But these victims should understand that neglecting to call may allow a criminal to go free and victimize someone else.
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The Baltimore County Police Department says there are specialty locks that will frustrate many burglars.
Police say a burglar placed under arrest told them that there are two types of locks that he and other thieves avoid.
The locks are described as hidden shackle locks. These locks are often used on tractor trailer doors, but some homeowners and businesses are using them on storage sheds and other structures easily accessed from the outside.
These locks can be purchased at home improvement and hardware stores. The locks are effective because, as the thief told police, there is no real practical way to cut the lock with bolt cutters. Furthermore, prying them out of the door is time consuming and noisy. The core of the lock is set into the lock. The investment is minimal, about $40, but the piece of mind is invaluable.
The other locks the thief referred to are used to secure ATVs and dirt bikes. The locks are simple, yet effective. One lock is a disc brake lock and attaches to a wheel on the bike or ATV. For those who want to spend a little more on security, there is a more sophisticated lock that has a built-in motion detector alarm. The locks can be purchased at motorcycle shops, online, and at some home improvement stores. Some stores will special order a lock if necessary. The locks range in price from $40 upward to about $90.
The last piece of security mentioned by the thief was lighting. He said a simple light shining in a shed or other structure keeps people like himself away. Burglars like to work in the dark.
No one can prevent crime, but these specialized locks along with good lighting will deter would-be thieves.
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Spring is here and summer isn't far behind. Warm, sunny days invite drivers to either roll down the windows, and for some, drive with the top down on their cars. That same wonderful weather makes thieves very happy too.
The Baltimore County Police Department reminds drivers and passengers alike to be cautious when leaving a vehicle open. While it may be inconvenient to put the windows and top up every time the vehicle is parked, it is even more troublesome to find it ransacked.
Many people have items such as cell phones, CDs, CD players, and GPS units that could be easily stolen from the vehicle. There are also important papers often in the glove compartment such as insurance and vehicle registration information. This can help a thief gain personal data that can lead to identification theft. And last but not least, the vehicle can be stolen.
The inside of the vehicle may be hot upon return, but the odds are good that the vehicle will still be there with everything intact.
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Bike riding and warm weather are a natural combination. But if your bike is stolen, hiking will be more your speed over the next few months.
The Baltimore County Police Department suggests all bike owners engrave their bikes. It's very simple to do and if needed, owners can go to the local precinct and borrow an engraving tool. Officers say using the ID numbers from a driver's license or Maryland ID card is the best way to mark your bike. Never, Never use a social security number as an ID number.
Another suggestion from officers is when storing a bike in a shed or garage, lock and attach it to a lawnmower or other heavy and bulky equipment. Thieves do break into sheds and garages. Attaching a bike to a piece of heavy equipment makes it more difficult to just walk or ride away from the area.
For more information on how to safeguard your bike and other valuables in your home, garage or shed contact your precinct's Community Outreach Officer.
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Baltimore County Police are reminding ATV and dirt bike operators of the need to drive their equipment legally and safely, and to protect their dirt bikes and ATVs from thieves.
ATVs are very popular. As the weather gets warmer, police anticipate that more and more operators will be using their ATVs and more and more thieves will look for opportunities to steal them. ATV and dirt bike operators are reminded to keep their vehicles secure, since thieves try to take them from sheds, garages, and even the back of pick-up trucks.
Operators are also reminded about the laws governing the use of ATVs and dirt bikes. These rules have been put in place for the safety of ATV operators, their friends, family and neighbors.
- ATVs and dirt bikes cannot be operated on roadways or public property.
- They cannot be operated on private property without the express written permission of the property owner. The written consent must be with the operator at all times. Those who operate ATVs or dirt bikes on private property without permission could face trespassing charges.
- They cannot be operated within 300 feet of a residence.
- ATVs and dirt bikes cannot be operated between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- All ATVs and dirt bikes operated anywhere in Baltimore County must display a Baltimore County registration permit. Registration can be obtained through the Baltimore County Bureau of Miscellaneous Permit Processing at 410-887-3616.
- A registration card must be carried and shown when requested by a police officer.
- Required safety equipment: Headgear is required for minors. All riders are required to have eye protection - protective devices or windscreens to protect the eyes.
Residents anywhere in the County interested in the legal, safe and secure operation of ATVs can check with the Community Outreach Team of their local precinct.
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Revised April 24, 2009
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