The Times Advocate, 2004-01-14, Page 11Wednesday,January 14, 2004
Exeter Times -Advocate
11
Tips to avoid repeat burglaries of homes and businesses
Victims of residential
burglaries are 12 times
more likely to be re -bur-
glarized in the next
month, according to a
Canadian study.
This is part of a world-
wide trend known as
"repeat victimization" or
"revictimization."
Victimization is a good
predictor of future victim-
ization and "repeats"
happen quickly; half the
time within seven days of
the first occurrence.
Normally criminals use
the environment to help
select the targets they
choose. They do this by
looking for good and bad
environmental cues.
Good cues, from the
criminal's perspective,
include papers and flyers
that aren't picked up,
over grown landscaping
and open garages, to
name a few.
Bad cues to a criminal
include, unobstructed
sight lines with witness
potential, an active
Neighbourhood Watch
and signs that the resi-
dence is occupied, even
when it's not. Examples
of the latter include the
use of interior lights and
properly maintained
homes.
In the case of burglars
who have committed a
previous break-in, the
selection process
changes. Now, the bur-
glar weighs the same
environmental factors
with the knowledge that
was gained from the pre-
vious break-in. This
includes the ease with
which entry occurred and
the amount of valuables
likely to be replaced. In
the event that significant
steps are not taken to
change the environment,
the scenario may repeat.
Burglars, like most peo-
ple, tend to travel familiar
routes, whether they're
engaged in criminal activ-
ity or not. Knowing this, it
is easy to influence the
burglar's decision by
altering those factors that
attracted him to a proper-
ty in the first place.
In some cases this will
be obvious, such as prun-
ing or removing large
overgrown shrubs that
provide cover near entry
points.
In other cases it will not
be so obvious, and may
require risk management
techniques, such as
marking your valuable
property or improving
your forced entry resis-
tance.
Regardless of which
crime prevention tech-
niques are required, it is
important to objectively
look at your property, and
limit the crime opportuni-
ties around your home or
business.
A property that fails to
attract the attention of a
burglar is a property that
won't be entered.
To prevent repeat
burglaries:
• Stand back and criti-
cally look at your proper-
ty, as if you were the
offender.
• Address the obvious
factors that may have
contributed to this crime.
• Include positive
changes to your environ-
ment that offenders will
take notice.
• Advise your neigh-
bours of the break-in and
ask for their assistance in
watching your property,
during the next few
months. Also, pay extra
attention to their homes.
• Make sure your home
looks occupied, even
when it's not.
Deterrents:
• A loud barking dog.
• Bright lights.
• An alarm.
• Having the lights, TV
and/or radio on.
• Use and advertise the
Mutual Protect Program
and put the signs in the
windows and doors.
• Modern doors and
windows of sturdy and
solid material.
• Good locks on all
doors and windows.
• Securely locked
garage.
• Solid, locked gate and
fence at least six feet in
height to restrict street
access to rear of house .
• A well exposed house
with landscaping that
does not screen doors or
windows.
• Signage indicating the
Neighbourhood Watch
program is in place.
• A locked screen door.
Don't:
• Just repair/replace the
damaged areas.
Annual church
meetings in
February
By Joan Beierling
VARNA CORRESPONDENT
VARNA - Church service was in Varna on
Sunday with a simple -fare luncheon to follow
consisting of chicken stew and homemade
bread. The free-will offering was
for the Beads of Hope.
Happy Birthday was sung to
John Robinson. Congratulations were extend-
ed to proud great-grandparents Jim and Kate
Keys on the arrival of their great -grandson.
Get -well wishes go out to Margie Elliott.
She has returned home from hospital and is
recovering quite well.
The sesquicentennial meeting for Varna
will be Fri., Jan. 30 instead of Thursday at
7:30 p.m. at the Varna Church. Please note
the change in time and plan to attend this
meeting. Everyone is getting geared up for the
events to take place Fri., July
30, Sat., July 31, as well as
Sun., Aug. 1.
Anyone in the Varna community can attend
these meetings. Thurs., Feb. 5 will be the
U.C.W. meeting at 8 p.m. Guest speaker will
be Helen Miller talking about the Good Food
Box.
Annual church meetings are coming up.
Varna's will be Sun., Feb. 8 and Goshen's will
be Sun., Feb. 15. Reports are needed now
please.
VARNA NEWS
• Be complacent once
the insurance has settled.
• Conspicuously dispose
of replacement packaging
in the garbage.
• Believe that your
crime prevention efforts
will be in vain.
If you require profes-
sional, unbiased advice,
contact your nearest com-
munity police station,
local crime prevention
association or the OPP
Rural and Agricultural
Crime Team (RACT) at
705-329-7679.
Business
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