Community Resource Officer Eric Pew spoke with residents about being proactive when it comes to their home security at free seminar
Stephen Finn
The Sun
Burlington Township may not be an area riddled with crime, but home security is an important consideration no matter where you live. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, the Burlington Township Police Department hosted a free seminar on crime prevention in the community room of the township municipal building.
Community Resource Officer Eric Pew presented residents with information on keeping their homes and belongings secure and how to avoid common scams.
When it comes to overall residential security, Pew says there are some main areas of focus homeowners should make note of when assessing their residence.
“With a home you really want to focus on the things that are manageable,” said Pew.
Some things about your home may be out of your control, simply a design feature that came with the property when you bought it that would be expensive to change. Pew says residents should worry more about the things they can control.
“A resident can look at small things to change like the locks, the windows and little things like trimming your trees and shrubs,” said Pew.
According to Pew, trimming trees and shrubs provides “natural surveillance.” Ideally, neighbors and any other residents who might be able to spot something out of the ordinary should be able to see the windows of your home as they walk or drive by. A window covered by a tall bush or tree can provide natural cover to a burglar inside your home.
Residents should be aware of the placement of furniture and valuables in their home. Anything stored underneath a window that can be climbed on top of, inside or outside the home, can make for easier access for an intruder.
Pew says residents should also make note of where and how they are keeping their valuables. There are spots in the home that are known to burglars as a safe bet for a quick find. Just taking a little extra time to think of less obvious hiding places for valuables can make a big difference.
“Burglars, if they make entry, the first thing they do is head to those common areas where we hide our valuables, the top dresser drawers where everybody puts their cash or jewelery. They’re looking for quick grabs, burglars don’t want to have contact with anybody, they’re looking to get in and get out” said Pew.
According to Pew, the first line of defense when it comes to home security is a good alarm system. It may seem obvious, but many people don’t have a system installed. There are many options out there from subscription services that provide 24/7 monitoring, to more basic systems.
Pew doesn’t recommend one brand over another, but suggests having some kind of system installed, not only to alert someone that a break-in could be happening but to serve as a deterrent that can prevent one all together.
“There are a lot of options now where you can install your own alarm system, or have it installed with no monitoring. You can have it hooked into the phone system where it immediately dials the police department,” said Pew.
In addition to home security, Pew also covered some common scams residents should be aware of. Although senior citizens are the most common victims of fraud, everyone should be on the lookout for calls or messages asking for money or personal information.
According to Pew, with tax season upon us, scammers often pose as the IRS to trick people into sending them money.
“The IRS will never call you, they’re going to send a letter. They’re never going to come out to your house and knock on the door. A lot of the time (people) get calls saying ‘you’re going to get arrested if you don’t pay X amount.’ That’s never going to happen, the IRS would never do that,” said Pew.
Although the below-freezing temperatures kept attendance to the seminar relatively low, a few residents braved the weather and showed up eager to be informed about how they can keep their homes safe.
Bonnie Johnson is a Burlington Township resident and a member of CERT (community emergency response team) for her neighborhood. Although she has never felt she was in danger in her town, she believes there is always more information out there to be aware of.
“I saw this (seminar) and it just struck a chord with me to find out what’s going on that I don’t hear about,” said Johnson. “I feel really secure, but I don’t want to get to the point where I’m not aware of my surroundings.”
According to Pew, residents concerned with the security of their residence can contact their local department to have an officer come and assess their property. Residents can contact the Burlington Township Police Department at (609) 386–2019.
