To avoid home burglaries, use simple checklist

By Dan Vessels, Fort Lewis Force Protection Specialist

A burglary can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated.

In 2007, the burglary and housebreaking crime rate on Fort Lewis, targeting family quarters, was 2.53 per 1,000. You can compare that to the rate of surrounding cities: Lakewood – 13.38 per 1,000; Lacey – 7.07 per 1,000; Tacoma – 16.44 per 1,000; Olympia – 6.28 per 1,000.

To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of who commits these crimes and why.

Burglaries are committed most often by males 27 to 33 years of age looking for items that are small, high in value, and easily converted to cash. Burglars want quick cash for living expenses or drugs.

Burglars often use some amount of force to enter a dwelling, but they prefer easy access through an open door or window.

Although home burglaries might seem random, they actually involve a simple selection process. Burglars choose an unoccupied home with easy access, good cover and escape routes.

Burglars continue to flourish because police rarely catch the thief in the act.

It is important to protect yourself.

First, you must secure your property. Don’t leave doors or windows unlocked. And that doesn’t just mean in family quarters. Barracks larceny is on the rise.

Identifying stolen property is critical, too. You should mark your high-value property to make it uniquely identifiable, then record the description and serial number.

Everyone can play a role in preventing crime. An important step is being alert. Be aware of people loitering in parking lots or around barracks or housing.

Loitering in parked vehicles and installation parking lots is prohibited during darkness. Waiting to pick up or discharge passengers is limited to 10 minutes and should be done in designated loading zones.

If people seem out of place, challenge and identify them. Don’t allow suspicious people to simply leave the area without first recording ID information from them. Ask to see ID. Record the name, date of birth and ID number. Identify suspicious vehicles by make, model, color, license plate number and state of issue.

People with legitimate access and reason to be in a particular location on post will normally have no problem with a polite check of their ID. If they seem suspicious to you, call the military police to report the person or persons.

In your home, a good suggestion is to follow a home security checklist. You can find an example at www.usaonwatch.org/pdfs/HomeSecurity.pdf.

Get to know your neighbors, too. Good neighbors look out for one another. Talk to them and establish trust. Good neighbors can report suspicious activity to the police while you are away. Notify Military Police of all suspicious or unlawful activity at 967-3107, 3108, 3109.