It’s that time of the year when many people commit to making changes in their lives.  Often, New Year’s resolutions involve goals to improve our well-being – losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more. Arguably the most important thing you can do to contribute to your family’s overall well-being in 2015, however, is investing in crime prevention.

Car burglaries is a problem anywhere whether the crime occurs in a parking lot or right here in the subdivision.  Many of these incidents involved unlocked vehicles.   We have also experienced home burglaries and attempted home burglaries.  As scary as these incidents are, there are precautions you can take to protect your personal property, your family and your home.

Remember, it is your responsibility to secure your property. This means locking your doors, securing your homes and employing measures to prevent crime.

Always lock your vehicle when unattended. And, never leave valuables inside your vehicle. Ensure your doors and windows are locked, even if you are out in the yard.  You should also lock your garage or shed and keep your property well lit at night.

A security system is the best deterrent to break-ins and burglaries.  The mere presence of an alarm system causes most criminals to move on to an easier target. If they do break in, the blare of the alarm siren is usually enough to scare them off.

Get to know your neighbors. By getting to know people in your neighborhood, you and your neighbors will be more inclined to look out for one another, know when something seems strange and report suspicious activity to police.

As you make your New Year’s resolutions, we encourage you to include security as a top priority, and we wish you and your family a wonderful and safe 2015.