I entered the words ‘Break and Enter in Whitby’ into Google and the results were shocking.
• Police warn Whitby residents following break-ins
• K-9 Apprehends Attempted Break and Enter Suspects
• Teens arrested following a break and enter in Whitby

Recently, our street has been the target of break-ins. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but the victims did share with us, that there were a couple of items stolen that can never be replaced.  It’s hard to say exactly when the break-in occurred, as the occupants were away at the time. But, the thieves kicked in the front door, walked in and stole, among other items jewellery, cash and personal identification.

The saying goes, “It’ll never happen to me”, but in realty, being burglarized is a very real threat to you and your family. Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside in an obvious place, like under the mat, yet millions of homes are burglarized each year.

When you look at a typical home, in many cases there is cash or jewellery somewhere in the bedrooms.  Also there are many electronics in homes ranging from TV’s, computers, laptops, iPads, smartphones, artwork, dvd players, gaming consoles, etc.  These items are very valuable to criminals as they can be sold with little effort very quickly.

What can you do to help prevent you from becoming a victim of burglary?
• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are locked while you’re away during the day.

• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors and windows first. So make sure these have a locking bar or extra bolt lock.
• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced entry. The thief is able to slip in through an unlocked window or door.
• Don’t show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked next to the garage, or expensive audio equipment clearly seen through a window, is an invitation to burglars.
• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your property. Are there spots where a thief could easily hide? If so, make some changes.
• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbour pick up newspapers, flyers and anything else that may accumulate at your door.
• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target a home without an alarm system.
• Get yourself some alarm stickers or decals that you can affix to windows or doors. The burglar won’t know that you actually do not have an alarm and will likely move on to somewhere else instead.

• Having a dog goes a long way toward home burglary prevention. Dogs can be unpredictable – they may bite, they may not. More often than not,  thieves will pick a house that’s dog-free rather than take the risk.

A lesson was learned from the recent break and enter on our street. While we have had a home safe for years, we have since become much more diligent at using it to keep our valuables. While many things can be replaced, there are some meaningful possessions that you can never get back.