As Morris Township investigates a spate of burglaries, thefts and attempted break-ins, Morristown police on Monday offered some crime prevention advice.
From the Morristown police:
Burglary & Theft Crime-Prevention Tips
Mayor Timothy Dougherty and Chief Peter Demnitz are issuing this media release to address the recent attempted burglaries and thefts that have been reported in Morris Township.
The Morristown and Morris Township Police Departments continue to work closely sharing resources, intelligence, and assets in order to address this recent string of reported incidents however all residents are being asked to assist us through the use of simple crime prevention methods.
Basic tips include:
Ensuring motion-sensored lighting around your residence.
Burglars are usually discouraged by these lights. When the lights go off, it gives them a chance to run away from the bright lights before you catch them trying to enter your house. This is also a great way for you to know when someone is approaching your home.
Placing interior lights on a timer.
Just because you aren’t home doesn’t mean that you should keep all the lights off at
all times. Set a timer and have the lights go on and off at specific times so that it looks
like your home is being occupied. Many burglars study when people exit and enter
their homes to plot their next move. By setting up these timers and lights to go on and
off, it’ll throw them off.
Removing packages and mail from the front of your residence.
Don’t let people even think that you are not home. Removing items from the front of your residence will help show that somebody is at home.
Never leave anything important in your vehicle.
Yes, even if the doors are locked! Thieves can break through the windows to take your
belongings if they feel motivated enough. So, don’t give anyone any reason for them
to target your car. Even if it’s something as simple as a blanket – by leaving this out in
the open, thieves may think that the blanket exists in there to hide something valuable
beneath it. By keeping your car completely clear of your possessions, it will not only
save you the trouble of recovering your valuables and the inconvenience of having to
fix broken car windows. To be extra safe, lock up your car’s compartment and trunk
from the inside as well. This way, if someone is able to somehow get in the car, they
aren’t able to go through these parts of the vehicle.
Locking all vehicle and home doors.
This seems like the most basic of tips but you would be surprised at the number of people who leave doors unlocked. Take a few extra minutes and make sure you protect yourself and your valuables.
Keep vacation dates off of social media.
With social media being such a large part of our lives today, it’s only natural to want to
share the excitement of an upcoming vacation. However, by doing so, you are
essentially setting yourself up as a target for burglars. Criminals in the past have relied
on public social media profiles like Facebook and Instagram to stalk and intrude homes
while residents are away.
Get to know the people in your neighborhood.
Being able to recognize who lives in your neighborhood goes a long way in recognizing
when there is a suspicious person in the area. Be aware of your neighbor’s habits, such
as when they are generally at work, if they have small children or teenagers, if they are
elderly and may need extra assistance from time to time. This awareness will make the
neighborhood a much tighter community, and everyone will be able to better prevent
crime.
Contacting police whenever anything suspicious is observed.
Anyone who observes suspicious activity should contact the Morristown Police at 973-538-2200 or the Morris Township Police at 973-539-0777. If you believe a crime is in progress call 9-1-1 for an immediate response.
Residents who wish to have MPD provide specific crime prevention tips for their homes can contact Chief Peter Demnitz at 973-292-6655 or via email.
