UPDATE: New Canaan Police Say Burglars Forced Their Way into Snowberry Lane Home

*Editor’s note: This story first published Oct. 21. Here it is again, in case you missed it.

Updated: 4 p.m.

Burglars forced their way into a Snowberry Lane home Wednesday morning, in what New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said is the fourth burglary in town since the end of September.

Residents weren’t home when the break-in occurred. The thieves tripped the home security alarm system, according to Krolikowski. As of Wednesday afternoon, investigators were still working with the residents to determine what was stolen.

Krolikowski said Wednesday’s burglary is the fourth in town since the end of September. Cash, jewelry, electronics and other valuables were taken during the burglaries of homes on Middle Ridge Road, Carter Street and Beech Road.

In the wake of these burglaries, police issued an advisory to residents and businesses along with tips on how to protect themselves. Police also are offering to security surveys of homes and businesses. (Details can be found below.)

Original story: 2 p.m.

New Canaan Police are advising residents to protect themselves against burglars who are targeting local homes during daylight hours.

Chief Leon Krolikowski said in a statement that another daytime burglary was reported Wednesday and that the department will intensify patrols using both marked and unmarked vehicles. Details on the latest break-in were not immediately available Wednesday.

“Most burglars are not master criminals. They’re usually looking for an easy opportunity to get into a house without being seen. Burglars love it when you make their job easier for them,” said Krolikowski.

In addition to some helpful tips to thwart thieves, police also are offering residents the opportunity to have officers conduct a security review of homes and businesses. (Details are below.)

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Here are some of the tips that would be helpful to residents:

1. BE WARY OF UNKNOWN VISITORS: Always check the identity of visitors before admitting them to your home. Often unsolicited offers to perform work (chimney repairs, driveway repairs, etc.) are scams or a ruse to commit a crime. Contact our Department via 911 if you see suspicious persons or vehicles.

2. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: Get to know your neighbors, watch out for them and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately. Prevention is the best cure.

3. DON’T LEAVE CLUES YOU ARE AWAY: If you go on vacation never leave clues that you are away. Cancel newspaper deliveries and have someone pick-up your mail or have it held at the post office. Never leave a message on your answering machine telling people you aren’t home. Be careful of postings on social networks like Facebook—burglars monitor these sites to see if you are away.

4. DON’T LET BURGLARS HIDE: Keep bushes and trees well-trimmed away from the front of your home especially near doors and windows and along pathways. Hedges provide a hiding place for burglars to work behind.

5. KEYS: Never leave the keys to your home or car inside a vehicle or in a place where a thief can find them. Keys placed under a doormat, flower pot, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places may invite a burglary. Burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

6. LIGHT UP YOUR HOME: At night, keep the perimeter of your home well lit. Low energy lighting switched on and off by photoelectric sensors (low light switches) is a cost-effective way to discourage burglars.

7. LOCK-UP: Lock all doors and windows when you leave home, day or night, even for a short time. Burglars are opportunists and leaving a door or window open makes it easy for them.

8. MARK VALUABLES: Mark your valuables with a unique identifying number using permanent (visible) or ultra violet (invisible) marker pen. Inventory all valuable and/or unique items. Photographs and video or these items may help with recovery and insurance claims.

9. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce the risk of a burglary. Be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood-the most important thing you can do is call our Department to report a crime or anything suspicious.

10. SCHEDULE A SECURITY SURVEY: Contact our Department at 203-594-3512 to schedule a free security survey. A trained police officer will survey your residence or business and will give you tips on how to protect your property.

11. USE YOUR ALARM SYSTEM: Always activate your alarm system, even when you are at home, and whenever you leave your house—even for a short time. Many successful burglaries that occur in our Town involve houses that have alarm systems that were not activated.

Police said that anonymous tips may be sent to the Department by downloading the “MYPD” application in the iPhone or Android marketplace. After downloading the application search for “New Canaan” and get connected.

You also can follow the department on Twitter@newcanaanpolice for crime alerts.