Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Hey everyone! I recently posted on "The Spinoff to Home Invasions" and I received a few FM's regarding how to be safe...

First and foremost I have been a Police Officer for almost 8 years now with the NYPD (alot of you know me from LIW, I got married in 2006).

Burglaries are when someone forcibly enters your home without your permission or authority.

Burglaries are "usually" done during the day when everyone is at work and there is less chance of people around.

Home Invasions are sometimes Burglaries gone wrong due to the fact that the home owners were home. Sometimes a home Invasion is intentional b/c the the perpetrator "knows" the homeowner, or their business (where they work, or what they do for a living).

I work in Queens and alot of the homes that get burglarized belong to homeowners that have "Cash" based businesses. Such as Nail Salons, Hair Salons, Some Mom & Pop stores...

You have to use your common sense if you own a business. DROP OFF THE MONEY AT THE BANK!!! They have night drops! The banks give you a key, it's a pull out drawer at the bank, and you drop it in.. It is VERY secure! Use It!!!
DON'T bring your hard earned money Home!!!!!!!

As for Alarms.... USE THEM IF YOU HAVE The THEM!!!! If you can not afford one, get the signs that state you have an alarm system and put it in your front yard (yes the stores sells these!!!!) You can even buy contacts to go on your windows that resemble real ones.. Amateur crooks who want a fast score don't know the difference and won't bother with your home if they see you have an alarm.

If the Alarms are old, get them serviced! The wiring does get affected after the years and sometimes they go off for no reason, or they get desensitized and never go off.... During Thunderstorms and heavy winds they will go off. If you have window censors and trees near your windows, your alarm can be triggered during high winds.

Update your contact information with your alarm company. They have been too many times where homes are broken into, the alarm goes off, the police respond only to find out that the alarm company can NOT notify the homeowners because you have changed your phone number. Also use an emergency contact person and give them a key to your home. So if the police need to enter your home to make sure the premise is secure we can do so without breaking down your door.

RESPONSE TIME...... This was brought up by another poster. It took 35min for the police to respond to a home. Unfortunately this happens, I won't lie. But Honestly.. the response time for house alarms is pretty decent, especially if any area is getting hit hard with burglaries. (If you live close to major roads or highways sometime these homes are targeted b/c of the fast escape route.)
I have in fact experienced the alarm company giving the wrong address to a 911 operator resulting in another home being secure, and the home getting burglarized ripped naked of so many precious belongings.

Please don't let yourself be a Victim!!!! Be Aware.. All of the Time!!!

REMEMBER..... Criminals go to the "nice" neighborhoods. Just b/c you think you live in a good neighborhood doesn't mean this can't happen to you...!!!!! But you can help prevent it...

Here is my post with some tips to help... PLEASE FM me if you need anything.. questions or suggestions....


Hi! I figured I would give you the "Cop" point of view. Unfortunately I have too much experience responding to Home Invasions and Burglaries. Unfortunately Burglars are getting a little bit more brazen and breaking into homes at night with people home, hence turning into a home invasion. There are many ways to keep your home and family safe.

- ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS!!!! This means during the Day and Night!!!! If your home during the day and it's sunny and beautiful just lock the screen door! Every little bit helps! (I always lock DH in the garage!!! oops!) Burglars don't want to make noise. they want to get in and out quick without bringing attention to themselves. So locking doors prevent it from being "easy" for them... And if you like leaving windows open when you leave your home such as for your pets, leave them open to the locks. It will be open enough for air but prevent someone from coming in. If you don't have locks, drill in screws to "make " your own lock...

- Don't Stick To A Schedule Indefinitely...
Change it up a bit! I understand people with families have a "Routine". But unfortunately your routine is a burglars "Opportunity"!!! They know when you come and go and for how long.

- LEAVE YOUR MONEY IN THE BANK!
Don't leave large sums of money around the house unless you have a LARGE safe to put it in. A safe that is Too heavy to carry out of your home. Also... If you go to the bank and make large transactions, be aware of your surroundings. Put your money away before you leave the bank.

- CLOSE YOUR BLINDS, CURTAINS etc....
Don't let everyone see your precious belongings. Such as your Flat screen TV, Lap top, etc... Or Your PETS!! That's my precious belonging!!! When your not home, you don't need to show the neighbors what you have. Because it's NOT just those nosey neighbors that are looking...

- CRUSH YOUR BIG PURCHASE BOXES!!!!!
For all those Holidays were people love to give wonderful gifts, don't let everyone know what you have. Crush the boxes... Or don't put them out to the curb until garbage day.


** I hope I'm not scaring anyone.. I'm trying to make you aware of what perpetrators look for to commit a crime. Don't give them the opportunity that they are looking for. Make it hard for them. They don't want to make noise. Noise brings attention to them and they can't get their job done. Don't be afraid to call the Police when you see someone suspicious in your neighborhood. If you see someone looking into house windows or checking door handles on houses or cars, CALL THE POLICE!! That is their job to investigate the person. If nothing is wrong that's fine!! It's ok. AND you can call ANONYMOUSLY!!!!**

If anyone ever has any questions feel free to ask!

Remember this is NOT fool proof... But it is the first step that you can take to protect you and your family.

Message edited 9/10/2008 8:05:17 PM.

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

EXCELLENT advice!

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank you for taking the time to write this out! Great advice!

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank u!!!!!!!!!

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank you so much for posting this!

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Great advice. Thank you for posting it.

I lock my door during the day all the time. It annoys my DH but I just do it out of habit. I had someone walk into my house last year when I was alone and scared the *&#@ out of me. Turned out she was looking for a different address and it was a benign situation (family friends moved in down on the opposite corner a few months before and had the same color minivan as us) but it always makes me think of how someone can walk right in for bad reasons.

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank you so much for your excellent advice. What you said about showing off to your neighbors what you have was so on key. Many of my neighbors have flat screen tv's hanging on their walls with their curtains open at night. I tell my husband that the neighbors are trying to show off their tvs, but it never occurred to me that a burglar could be targeting their house. I lock every door and window and leave all the lights on outside and it drives my DH nuts!
Thank you again. This scary situation has to stop, if we all lock our doors and windows and keep our homes lit, hopefully that wll deter these perps.

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Posted by debsey75

Thank u!!!!!!!!!

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank you so much for posting these tips!! All these home invasions have me so stressed.

Re: Home Invasions, Burglaries, Alarms Systems... What Can You Do???

Thank you! DH always locks me out of the house when I am gardening.