There have been some recent burglaries in the past week near by in South Laurel. Please be sure and read the safety tips at the end of this e-mail, especially if you will be away for the holidays. Also if you are expecting package deliveries you might want to ask a trusted neighbor to hold the packages for you till you arrive home to prevent the packages from being stolen.
Be on the watch for suspicious cars or suspects in our neighborhood and report any suspicious activity to the police. If you see anyone who you feel does not live here do not hesitate to call the police sothey can check them out. Also notify me if you do call the police soI can alert others on the e-mail list of suspicious activities. We need to keep our community safe and share information.
Non-emergencypolice number is 301-352-1200. For suspicious persons or cars immediately call 9-1-1.
12/12/12Breaking and entering in the 8500 block of Imperial Drive off of Claxton Drive.
12/14/12Breaking and entering in the 8600 block of Claxton Drive.
12/15/12Breaking and entering in the 8600 block of Snowden Loop off of Montpelier Drive.
12/15/12Vandalism in the 8600 block of Snowden Loop.
12/15/12Theft from vehicle in the 13100 block of Claxton Drive.
Be safe and have a Happy Holiday Season.
Richard Mason
Security Chairman
Orwood Lane
Sa f e t y T ip s
Burglary Prevention:
Have you ever been locked out of your home? Were you able to get in anyway? Now think about it if you could break into your own home, it’s just as easy for someone else to break in, too. Strong locks—and good neighbors who look out for one another—can be effective deterrents to burglars. Here are a few tips that can help you keep you—and your property—safe and secure.
Check Your Locks
1. Make sure every external door has a strong, well-installed dead bolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not enough.
2.Sliding glass doors offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door or by installing commercially available locks. To prevent the door being lifted off of the track, drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.
3.Lock double-hung windows with key locks or “pin” your windows by drilling a small hole at a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames,then insert a nail that can be removed. You should secure basement windows with grilles or grates (but make sure that they can be opened from the inside in case of fire).
4.Never hide keys around the outside of your home. Instead, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
5.When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.
Check Your Doors
1.While we all like to feel that once we close and lock our doors, we’re safe and secure, the truth of the matter is that a lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down with your wallet on the front seat.
2. All outside doors should be metal or solid wood
3. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so that you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don’t keep out intruders.
4. If your doors don’t fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.
Check the Outside
1.Take a look at your home from the outside, and keep in mind the following tips to help make your home as safe as it can be.
2.Burglars hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Motion-detector lights can be particularly effective.
3.Keep your yard clean. Prune shrubbery so it doesn’t hide windows or doors. Cut back tree limbs that a burglar could use to climb to an upper-level window.
4.If you travel, create the illusion that you are at home by getting timers that will turn lights (and perhaps a television or radio) on and off in different parts of your home throughout the day and evening hours. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.
5.Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions and make sure you don’t let your mail and/or newspapers pile up. Call the post office and newspaper to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick them up.
6.Make a list of your valuables, such as TVs, stereos, computers, and jewelry. Take pictures of the items, list their serial numbers and description. This will help police if your home is burglarized.
7.Ask for a free home security survey.
8.When getting work done on your vehicle, leave only the vehicle key for the service personnel. The same goes for car park attendants and valets. If you are having work done on your vehicle, give the service station your business address – not your home address.
Its Great To Be Safe
Please leave a comment:
You must be logged in to post a comment.