Cop's Corner

  • Published
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Several similar incidents of burglary have occurred throughout the local area and all have resulted in the theft of finances and valuable, personal belongings. Additionally, minor property damage has occurred as a result of forced entry. From the events reported on Jan.18 and 22, the following possessions were reported stolen:

Location 1: a Marathon Divers watch, a Guess watch, a diamond engagement ring, 2,000 Euro and $300.

Location 2: two gold wedding bands, three gold chain necklaces, a pair of earrings, a white gold ring, a gold bracelet with gold charm, and $300.

Location 3: an IPhone and a Guess watch.

Remember that no lock, regardless of its quality, can be 100 percent effective in preventing burglary. Most dead bolt locks provide only minimum security. Therefore, your first line of defense in protecting your home should start with the surrounding exterior. As a thief or burglar needs only seconds to visually assess your residence as a potential target, make the physical security of your home apparent at first glance. Always use adequate lighting, especially in areas where your home is most vulnerable. This is important at the main entrances, back/side doors, and garages. Also, keep bushes and trees trimmed in a manner to which they do not offer concealment for potential perpetrators. To do so effectively, use multiple vantage points. Evaluate your field of vision from the exterior of your home as well as the interior to more accurately identify problematic areas of security. Avoid leaving expensive equipment in the yard as it is a general indicator of neglect and poor protection. Lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles are best when stored out of sight and secured appropriately. Use shutters or blinds to protect your privacy in addition to preventing others from conducting a visual inventory of belongings. Windows on basement doors or garage doors are no exception.

CRIME PREVENTION TIP OF THE WEEK:
As every neighborhood and residence is unique, many require different approaches to crime prevention in order to fulfill security needs. And while we recommend basic security implementations for everyone, the best preventative measure is knowledge and awareness. Take the time to evaluate and educate yourself on local crime and the actions used to combat future or repeat occurrences. After all, there are various methods that can be used to obtain the same desired result. By identifying individual weaknesses in security and implementing the appropriate measures needed for a specific neighborhood, individuals are more likely to be confident in methods chosen. There are also numerous reputable Web sites that can assist individuals in making appropriate changes or adjustments in security. For example, take a few moments to navigate through the National Crime Prevention Council Web site at http://www.ncpc.org for tips, topics, strategies, and information for the implementation of crime prevention methods.