Recently, there have been some thefts in our neighborhood. Of course, none of us could completely "thief-proof" our home, but there are some simple, basic precautions that we can all take to try to avoid this unfortunate problem. Even though we live in a neighborhood that more closely resembles "Mayberry" than it does "Gotham City", these things do still happen. Please be aware and please take caution.
- Keep your doors locked. This includes a back door (sliding or otherwise), car doors, and maybe even the door that leads from your garage into your house. This is important to remember, not only at night but also during the day.
- Keep your windows locked. If you choose to have a window open at night (or even during the day when no one is at home), be sure to put something in the window (a thick dowel rod, PVC pipe, etc.) that will keep any outsiders from being able to open it further and enter your home.
- Keep any side gates shut and consider locking them if they are not regularly used.
- Keep your garage door closed when you are not in the process of leaving or coming home; always shut it when you leave to go somewhere and always shut it even when you are at home.
- Don't leave anything out in your front yard, on your front porch, in your driveway, or in an open garage that you would not want stolen. This is nothing but an invitation to someone who's looking to steal something.
- Keep outside lights on at night when possible. Thieves are not like moths; they do not like light and are very much attracted to dark areas.
- When you leave on vacation, be sure to have someone pick up your mail for you. A full mailbox is usually an immediate indication to a thief that the residents of that home are gone and that no one's watching their house for them.
- When you leave on vacation, consider purchasing and using light timers. They're a great way to make it look like someone's home when no one actually is.
If any of you have any other tips or suggestions that have not been listed here, please feel free to post them in a comment!
There's a great article online (posted by the St. George Police Department) regarding this issue and how we all can be more aware. Please take the time to read it:
As a heads-up, at our next Community HOA Meeting on September 22nd (at the Lehi Legacy Center), we plan to present information regarding what it would take to start a neighborhood watch program.
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