Sheriff's Office To Offer Home Security Class in June

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As summer approaches and temperatures rise, so do the number of burglaries reported in Loudoun County. Although the number of overall burglaries in Loudoun decreased by 20 percent over the last two years, the frequency of burglaries increases during the summer months.

In an effort to deter residential burglaries during the summer and to better prepare citizens, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit will hold a Home Security and Burglary Prevention class at 7 p.m. June 17 at the Dulles South Public Safety Center’s community room. The center is at 25216 Loudoun County Parkway in Chantilly.

During the class, trained personnel from the Crime Prevention Unit will offer tips on how to properly secure your home, including:

• All exterior doors should be secured by a deadbolt lock.
• Install good locks on windows and a locking bar or track lock device on sliding glass doors.
• Close and lock all garage doors.
• Leave on interior lights or place them on automatic timers.
• Motion sensor lights should be installed on the exterior of the home near entrances.
• Trim all shrubs and bushes around the home. They should not be allowed to grow higher than 24 inches or higher than the lower ledge of a first floor window.
• A well-kept yard is a deterrent to burglars.

“Unfortunately, not all burglaries are preventable and we want our residents to always be safe,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said. “If you return home and found you have been the victim of a burglary, immediately call 911 and leave the home to find a safe place.”If you believe your home has been burglarized, you are encouraged to take the following steps:

• Wait outside the home, possibly in a locked car or at a neighbor’s home, until deputies arrive.
• For your safety, residents are advised to never search the home yourself. There is always a chance someone could still be in the home.
• Detectives urge residents to never touch anything inside the home before deputies arrive. By touching items, you could tamper with possible forensic evidence and limit the chances of a successful conclusion in the case.

Residents are also encouraged to report any suspicious activity, persons or vehicles immediately by calling the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.