There has been a recent increase in seasonal burglaries, in particular in the Arcadia and Biltmore areas.  Burglaries are usually crimes of opportunity.  Burglars take advantage of the mild weather to seek out homes with open windows and doors.  The Phoenix Police Department has provided several steps you can take to improve the security of your home:

SECURE YOUR HOME

· Lock all doors and windows, NOT JUST SCREENS.  Screens can be easily cut to gain entry.
· Close and secure your garage.  Don’t leave it open even a foot!
· Lock your vehicle.  If you park in the driveway and have a garage, do not store your garage door opener in your vehicle.  A thief can access the vehicle and use the garage opener to gain entry into your home.
· If you have a doggie door, keep in mind a person of smaller stature could use it as an entry point.  Secure this point of entry.
· Lock your gates.  If a criminal has to deal with locks or jump over fences, this can be much more obvious to neighbors as something out of the ordinary.
· Light the night.  Low voltage lighting and/or motion activated lighting make are a tremendous deterrent to crime.  Leaving the outside lights on all night can be a good prevention tool.
· Consider installing an alarm system.  Burglars do not like having any attention drawn to them.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

· Be watchful of suspicious activity around your home, and your neighbors.
· Watch for vehicles driving through alleyways.  Alleys are not to be used as thoroughfares.  Report suspicious activity.
· Get to know your neighbors.  Pick up newspapers in the driveway, and know what vehicles should be parked at the home.
· Be wary of solicitors.  Do not allow people into your home who you do not know, and monitor their activity after they leave your doorstep.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE A VICTIM

· If you arrive home and believe your home was burglarized, don’t enter.  Call 9-1-1 and report the crime immediately.
· Don’t touch or disturb anything.  Evidence collection has led to the arrest of many burglars.  Allow the officer to view the crime scene just as you found it.
· If you believe someone is in your home while you are home, DO NOT CONFRONT THE INTRUDER.  If you can, quietly exit the home and call 9-1-1.  If you cannot leave without alerting the criminal, go to a safe room, lock the door and call 9-1-1.

The best defense against crime is to be aware and informed.  Learning and following these simple suggestions will go a long way toward keeping your home and neighborhood safe.

Please call 911 to report a serious crime, fire, serious medical condition, crime in progress, or any situation requiring immediate response of Police, Fire or Emergency Medical Personnel.

Please call NON-EMERGENCY CRIMESTOP (602-262-6151) to report any situation NOT requiring immediate response such as report calls for burglary, thefts, stolen vehicles, non-urgent traffic problems, or loud noise complaints.

Contact Councilman Sal DiCiccio at council.district.6@phoenix.gov or 602-262-7491.