Photograph Your Jewelry, and Other Tips

There have been a few recent burglaries in southern Willistown and nearby municipalities in the past couple of weeks. The Willistown Police Department has some tips on its website to help avoid becoming a victim.

One tip not mentioned below is to photograph your jewelery, which the police say makes it much easier to identify when found.

Many of the tips apply to people leaving their homes empty while they go on vacation.

• Have good locks on all doors and windows and use them.
• Make sure your residence looks lived in, not empty.
• Leave shades and blinds in a normal position.
• Ask a neighbor to watch your residence while you are away. Leave your vacation address and telephone number with a neighbor so you can be reached in case of an emergency.
• Test your smoke and burglar alarms.
• Stop all deliveries, arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspaper and packages.
• Have a neighbor place garbage cans at the curb on your normal pickup day(s) and return them after the garbage pickup is made
• Plug in timers to turn lights and a radio or television on and off at appropriate times.
• Turn the bell or ringer on your telephone down low. If a burglar is around, he won't be alerted to your absence by a ringing telephone.
• If you have call forwarding on your telephone, forward your calls to a trusted friend or relative.
• Don't announce your absence on answering machine messages; leave your normal message on the machine.
• Engrave your valuables with your driver's license number and post Operation Identification decals on entry doors and windows.
• Close and lock garage doors and windows. Ask a neighbor to occasionally park in your driveway. If you leave your car at home, park it as you normally would. Vehicles parked outside should be moved occasionally to appear that they are being used.
• Consider taking valuables to a bank safety deposit box.
• Ask local police to place your home on their vacation check list.

Remember to call 911 if you see suspicious activity near your home. If possible, write down the license plate information of any suspicious vehicles.