1210 Lock it up, light it up for holiday safety

  • By Robin Hauenstein
  • December 7, 2010
  • 250
                        
Pulling in the driveway after an evening out visiting friends at a holiday party, you notice the front door is ajar. Walking in the house, nothing seems remiss until you notice all of the presents are missing from under the Christmas tree, and further home inspection reveals an empty jewelry box and firearms missing. How did this happen? More importantly, how can it be prevented? “Lock your doors, lock your home, and do not change the way the outside of your home looks. Leave indoor and outdoor lights on,” said Jeff Urban, New Philadelphia police chief. Urban explained that many would-be thieves watch for changes in patterns. While people may be trying to cut down on electricity by turning lights off, a dark house with no outside lighting is an invitation for thieves. Urban also said that it’s easy to tell whether or not anyone is at home just by looking at the vehicles and whether they are parked inside a garage or left out on the drive. Those who don’t park their cars in the garage send a message to thieves that they are not home, when the driveway is empty. Urban said guns and jewelry, as well as cash, are items that can be disposed of quickly. Many firearms owners, he noted, don’t write down the serial numbers and gold is such a hot commodity that buyers of precious metals are everywhere. “There’s usually not a lot of questions asked,” Urban added, when those items are taken to a pawn shop or metal broker. The police chief encouraged displaying holiday lights and decorations, saying they add to the illumination of the house, and he suggested putting indoor and outdoor lights on simple timers so that homes are always illuminated, as if someone was home. Another opportunity for trouble arises when people post on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter that they are going out for the night, visiting out-of-state family members, or taking a cruise or special trip. Even with firewalls and privacy settings, Urban said it’s not a problem for people to find out who is home and who will be gone for hours or even days. “Anything you put on the Internet can be seen by anyone who wants to see it,” he warned. “How much information do you want everybody to know?” Keep mum and post information and trip photos on those sites after returning home from a vacation or visiting family. The biggest problem in the area, Urban said, still remains with scams. Recently, one alleged local con artist scammed hundreds of thousands of dollars from his victims. While that happened in the greater Tuscarawas County area, Urban said the common years-old scams from Nigeria and beyond continue to fool people. “You did not win the lottery” in another country, he warned. “People think they can get rich. There is no fast and easy way to make money.” Urban pointed out that Tuscarawas County banks still have customers who come in, draw out thousands of dollars on a check, and are very vague when asked by tellers or bank officials where the money is going. Eventually, Urban said, they will confess to getting a letter or e-mail from some long-lost king in Africa or Asia, or even Canada, who will allegedly send them a large amount of money in return for their check. However, by the time the fraudulent check is sent to America is cashed and inevitably bounces, the scammers are long gone with their victims’ money. “It’s unbelievable that well-educated people are giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to con artists,” he said. Urban encouraged giving to well-known and established local and national charities, or find a satisfying way to help an individual in need. “Christmas is a time that people feel warm and fuzzy,” the police chief added. While the holidays may be busy with parties, traveling, gift buying and stories that tug at our hearts and wallets, a little extra caution and planning can ensure the rest of the year is not filled with sadness or anger sustained from burglary or fraud.


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