With Spike In Burglaries, Police Chief Rob Lawson Offers Crime Prevention Tips

chief lawson podium tlsIn wake of the recent rash of burglaries, Police Chief Rob lawson submitted the following statement to TLS: In the recent past, there has been a marked increase in the number of burglaries to residences and vehicles. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to remind our residents of some basic crime prevention tips:
 
Residences
 
1.  Every evening before going to bed, take several minutes to check all windows and doors to insure that they are locked.
2.  If you have an alarm, insure that it is set whenever you leave the house or upon retiring for the evening
3.  Do not leave ladders or other objects unsecured in your yard with which a burglar can use to access a second floor window.
4.  Trim back shrubs or plantings that are close to the house that could be used as a hiding place by burglars.
5.  Keeping your home illuminated  with outdoor lighting will serve as a deterrent against burglars who prefer to work undetected in the dark and the shadows.
6.  Keep your window shades and blinds closed so that the interior of your home and your possessions cannot be viewed from the outside.
7.  If you are not going to be home for more than a day, use timers for several lights to give your home a lived in look and have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
8.  Record the serial number on all large expense electronic equipment (televisions, stereos, video game units, computers, laptops etec.) as this will enhance the chances of tracing stolen items.
9.  Consider creating a Neighborhood Watch Association which basically involves neighbors keeping an eye on each other’s property. We will assist you in setting up this program.
10. Our Community Resource Officers are available to give presentations to neighborhood groups on crime prevention tips and strategies.
11. If you find a burglar in your home, do not confront or try to detain him as you are potentially risking your life to do so. Retreat to a safe place and immediately call 911 or LPD (732 363-0200 then press 0). Try to get the best physical and clothing description that you can so that this information can be relayed to the responding police officers.
 
 
              Vehicles
           
1.  Always lock the doors to your vehicle when it is unattended and when driving (most fatalities occur
when a person is ejected from the vehicle).
2.  Never leave your vehicle running and unattended. Now that the cold weather is imminent, people have a tendency to do this and such behavior accounts for most of the stolen vehicles in town.
3.  Keep all valuables out of sight in the vehicle including: GPS units (#1 item stolen), wallets, pocketbooks, laptop computers, jewelry, money (bills and loose change), and even CDs. Most of the time, these thefts are crimes of opportunity. The thieves will go through a neighborhood checking car doors until they find an open one and then will rifle it for anything of value. If items of value are visible from the outside, they may take the risk of breaking a vehicle window to steal those items.
4.  Not that this is the issue at hand but NEVER, EVER leave an infant or child unattended in a vehicle.
 
Thank you,
 
Chief Rob Lawson

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9 COMMENTS

  3. hey you guys chief lawson is trying his best with a budget so tight there is no more room to squeeze. This town is booming and we need more resources to combat the abnormal amount of crime this town has.

    i firmly believe we all need to create neighboorhood watches and mybe all under the LCSW so we show strength.

  5. It would be best if LCSW forms a few zones in Lakewood, And get another 15 guys to join each of the zones. Each member will be patrol his zone twice a month thereby having one patrol every night. These members won`t be required to carry radios all day as they won`t be “responders” only “patrollers” on their shift. Also by patrolling their own area they are familiar with the ins and outs in order to do a thorough job.

  6. The cheif hit #8 on the head We need to set up real neighborhood watches that people patrol there neighborhood that they live in. And if they see something abnormal call the police. If some one from brook hill is in west gate he dosnt know who lives there and who dosnt so how will he know if the person belongs ther?

  7. How bout you not make yourselves victims and take the advise the
    Chief is giving you. Stop bickering over the crime rate or how is the police going to pay for it. You have to be the front line of defense..You have to take the first steps. You have to LOCK All your doors and windows. Just stop being so inconsiderate and help the PD and LCSW help you.

  8. I guess some don’t realize in most situations the police act after the crime is commited ,it up to the indivudual to do everything in their power to keep crime from happening in the first place as said the chief said in this article. Don’t make yourself a target by neglecting to take heed to his advice.

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