Hennepin County Analyzes Dozens of Break-Ins, Releases List of Preventative Measures

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office has analyzed information from dozens of home burglaries and have found thieves in the recent break-ins appear to be gaining access into homes from attached garages, according to a news release.

Based on reports from several home burglaries, it appears the thieves will do one of the following:

• Remove garage door openers from vehicles parked in driveways (unlocked vehicles and locked vehicles) or open garage doors using a vehicle’s built-in home-link transmitter
• Enter a garage though an already open garage door
• Kick-in an exterior garage service door

Once the burglars have access to the garage, they will enter the home through the interior garage access door.

These types of home break-ins have been reported at all times of day and night, and both when individuals are home and away.

Once the thieves have access to a home, they will target small, yet highly valuable items such as cash, wallets, purses, and jewelry. In several instances, homeowners did not initially realize they had been the target of a home burglary due to the lack of evidence of a forced entry.

Tips to avoid becoming a target of home burglary:

• Always lock your vehicles when parked in a driveway or garage
• Protect your vehicles with an anti-theft device if not already equipped with one
• Secure your garage door openers in your house when possible
• Do not leave your garage door openers visible in your vehicles
• Close your garage doors when not home or when the garage is not in plain view
• Lock exterior service doors to garages – reinforce service doors with security bars or deadbolts if possible
• Lock interior access doors that lead into houses – reinforce access doors with deadbolts if possible
• Lock home entry doors when you are not home

Image via Hennepin County Sheriff's Office