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Home Safety: Decrease the likelihood that your home will be a target

Of all the major criminal offenses, residential burglary is perhaps the most common. A burglary is reported every 15 seconds in the United States. Burglars entered more than 2.1 million homes last year. Two out of every three burglaries were residential in nature. Statistics also share more disturbing numbers such as at least one home in twenty were burglarized last year in this country.

Taking a closer look, here in Tigard we are fortunate that we do not share a significant portion of those statistics. For the entire year 2005 in Tigard, 309 burglaries were reported. Of that, 160 were residential. Reports also indicated that a significant number of those residential burglaries reportedly occurred between the hours of 6 am and 6 pm. Reports also indicated that many of the entries into the homes were via unlocked or opened doors and windows. Police suggest that home owners and apartment dwellers look critically at their residence and make necessary changes to help bolster the safety and security of the home.

In efforts to help look for possible weaknesses or lack of security elements in place, Tigard Police suggest using the provided Home Security Checklist to evaluate your property. A few minutes of your time now can possibly alleviate becoming a victim in the future.

Remember to always report suspicious activity around your home and in your neighborhood to the police. The non-emergency telephone number for Tigard Police is 503-629-0111. In addition to taking the necessary precautions around your home, why not consider joining a "neighborhood watch?" Having your neighbors also looking out for you and your property is another plus. Consider joining if you haven't already. If you do not know if a neighborhood watch is present in your area, you can contact Tigard Police at 503-718-2561 to learn more.

Additional inquiries regarding this information can be directed to the Tigard Police Crime Prevention Officer, Jim Wolf at 503-718-2561 or 27047@tigard-or.gov for more information.