Greenwich Police responded to a report of a residential burglary on Pond Place in Cos Cob on Friday Jan 6 around 11:30pm.
According to Greenwich Police Lt Patrick Smyth, the call came from the property owner who had rented the house to tenants who were away from the home.
Lt Smyth said ideally residents should install alarm systems and make sure to activate them when they are not home.
Further, he said when planning a vacation it’s a good idea to put lights on timers, cancel newspaper deliveries and have mail brought in by a neighbor or held as the post office.
“As it gets dark earlier in the day and you drive by at 5pm and the lights are out, it’s an indication no one is home,” Smyth added. “If you drive by again at 8pm and the lights are still out, it’s an indication there’s nobody around.”
“That’s what people look for,” Smyth said. “They’re not targeting homes where someone is home.”
Smyth said not long ago there was an attempted break-in in Old Greenwich, but an alarm was activated and the would-be thieves were foiled.
More from Greenwich Police, shared Jan 13, 2023:
Burglary Prevention Tips
Burglars go through neighborhoods looking for homes to target that appear as if no one is home or away on vacation. The following burglary prevention tips may help reduce the risk of your home being targeted by a burglar or make it harder for them to succeed in stealing your property.
Burglary Basics
Make your home look occupied and make it difficult to break in. Lock all outside doors and windows before leaving or going to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors! Even the 2nd story windows need to be locked. Leave lights on when you go out. If you plan on being away for a long time, connect a few lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day. Keep your garage doors and any garage windows closed and locked.
Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers, or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly. Arrange for your lawn to be mowed or the driveway and front entrance to be plowed when it snows if you are going away for an extended time.
Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices. Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security. Windows may need better locks. Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen. No lock, regardless of its quality, is 100 percent break-in-proof. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation and what locking mechanisms are more secure than others.
Don’t tempt a thief:
You should always lock your sheds and garages. Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes, or other “secret” hiding places. Burglars know where to look for hidden keys. Keep ladders or other structures that can be used to climb locked in a shed or garage so the burglar can’t use them to climb to a 2nd-floor window (Keep these windows locked).
Use curtains on windows and never leave notes or broadcast in any way you are out of the house or away.
Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for yards. Trim trees and shrubs so they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
Alarms:
An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market. Alarms should always be activated when not home and placed in the “Stay” mode with home.
Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available.
If your home is broken into:
If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door:
Do not enter- the perpetrator may still be inside. Use your cell phone or a neighbor’s phone to call the Greenwich Police Department. Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
Lastly, keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase, original value, and serial numbers, and keep the copy safe. Use a fireproof box in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms, and antiques. Your insurance company can aid you in how to make and keep your inventory.
Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately. Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles. Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons. The most important thing you can do is call the police to report a crime or any suspicious activity. You must be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember, you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes.