Bernards Twp. Police Step Up Enforcement For Diwali Celebration

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township Police is stepping up enforcement as the Diwali season for 2017 begins.

"The police department wishes all families participating in festivities a happy and healthy experience in this most joyful Hindu celebration," Bernards Township Police Department said. "Unfortunately, every year we see this joyous occasion as opportunity for residents to be targeted and victimized by criminal elements."

Police sent out an alert to remind residents to keep themselves safe and offered the following tips.

What BTPD is doing:

• During the time period of the Diwali celebration, BTPD has a heightened awareness and has developed strategies to deal with preventing residents from becoming victims;
• You may notice an increased presence of police officers in marked police vehicles in your neighborhoods in order to provide high visibility presence;
• In addition, BTPD will be employing a number of undercover surveillance strategies in target neighborhoods.

What you can do:

• Be mindful and educate your community on the heightened risk of home burglaries and crimes during this holiday season;
• Consider securing valuables in your home in a safe or hidden areas;
• Document all valuables with photographs;
• If your home is equipped with a burglar alarm and/or any type of security cameras, make sure they are in good working order and armed when you are not home;
• Speak with your neighbors about keeping watch on your home when you will not be there;
• The police department depends on citizens like you to be our eyes and ears in the neighborhood, please report suspicious activity to the police department by calling 908-766-1122. You know your neighborhoods the best and can assist the police by identifying things that look out of place;
• Report all emergencies to police immediately by dialing 9-1-1

(Image via Morguefile)

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