Is your home asking to be burglarized??? During the last HMP General Meetings, presentations were given by Michael Maxwell, IMPD Community Resource Liaison and Daphne Whitmire from the Marion County Prosecutor’s office.
As the temperatures begin to rise, so does the chance for crimes such as burglaries. People begin to spend more time outside and away from their homes. Oftentimes, people open windows and doors to let in that “fresh spring air.” All the while, this could be helping a burglar plot a crime against your home and belongings.
Michael Maxwell discussed the steps needed if you feel your home has been burglarized, but also what to do if you think a crime is in process. Mr. Maxwell identified proactive steps we can take to protect our home and belongings:
- Write down the serial numbers of all your valuables and keep the numbers in a safe place.
- Do not keep serial numbers on your computer, as computers may be stolen by burglars.
- Keep receipts when new valuables are purchased and add those items to your homeowner or renter insurance policy.
- Engrave your valuables with a UV laser or professional engraver. This sends up a “red flag” to police when items are recovered.
- Do not allow flat-screen TVs or computers to be visible from the street.
- Keep doors and garages locked at all times, even if you are in your front or back yard.
- For crimes in progress, call 911 immediately!
When the police come to investigate, they cannot take finger-prints from most surfaces. Additionally, the following contact numbers were provided to either report a crime not in progress or if you are unsatisfied with the police after you have reported a crime:
Dispatch Non-Emergency: 327-3811
Commander Thomas Koppel: 327-6991
Crime Reduction Specialist, Lt. Dale Braun: 327-6112
Community Resource Liaison, Officer Michael Maxwell :327-6119
To continue our crime prevention education, Daphne Whitmire from the Prosecutor’s office gave a follow-up presentation on April 25th to HMP residents on how to safeguard homes from being a target for burglars. She also brought UV lasers and an engraver which she is loaning to HMP for 90 days so that residents can mark their valuables. To borrow these items, please contact HMPNA Board Member Bryan Bigelow at bryan.bigelow@att.net.
Crimes such as burglary will always exist. However, we have a key component to help avoid or lessen this circumstance: You and our neighbors!!
The HMPNA is in the process of revamping our Safe Neighbor Awareness Program (SNAP). Think of this program as a neighborhood Crime Prevention block club. Currently, we are seeking out volunteers to be Block Captains. Block Captains serve as the organizer and informer for their defined block. They will notify their neighbors of meetings, recent crimes in the area, and help welcome new neighbors in the area. We can’t have enough volunteers for this program. The more involved we are as a neighborhood will result in a decrease in criminal activity. If you would like to volunteer for this, please contact Board Member Bryan Bigelow at bryan.bigelow@att.net.