CABIN AND COTTAGE CRIME PREVENTION TIPS (HOMES TOO!)

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By Paula Dickenson, Crime Prevention Specialist
San Diego Sheriff, Alpine and Rural East County

 

July 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) -- Your sanctuary is waiting for you. Arriving, your gut tells you something is wrong. As you pull up the driveway you notice that your cabin has been burglarized. Fear, anger, frustration are among the feelings as you begin to see the damage that has been done.
 

Along with your own common sense, cabin and cottage owners can significantly reduce the risk of the home being burglarized by making a few simple changes.

 

Trail Camera. Trail Cams are not just for hunters anymore! They can be used for surveillance too! Relatively cheap, some starting less than $100, they are motion activated and compact. I found many web sites on Trail Cams which go into detail on their operation and maintenance. Best information I learned? Most run on a battery!

“We’re Still Home” Look. Make it obvious that you are still around. Before leaving for home or away, switch out your rakes, brooms, garden and other yard items for inexpensive yard tools, in plain view. Change their locations too. Anyone monitoring the cabin from the road can see activity is taking place in and around the property.

Leave inside lights on timers and consider leaving a radio on a timer as well. Have a neighbor pick up your mail, or suspend mail service. Have them also check periodically for those sample newspapers or advertisements thrown on your driveway.

When away for extended periods of time, “change out” decorative/expensive items from your property.

A few weeks before you leave, close the blinds in the evening every night. If you leave your blinds shut while you are away, then it still looks as if you are home.

One of the downfalls of telling the world where you are and what you’re doing at all times is that…the entire world knows where you are and what you’re doing at all times. We would encourage you not to post on Facebook or Twitter that you’re leaving for a tropical paradise for a week. It’s a lot easier than you think for the bad guys to find out where you live, compromising your home security.


Sheriff’s Department has a “Vacation Check
” conducted by our Senior Volunteer Unit. If you will be gone for less than 30 days, stop by your local Sheriff’s Station and pick up the Vacation Check Request Form.


Need additional information? Call me! Paula Dickenson, Crime Prevention Specialist, Alpine and East County Rural, 619 659-2608

 

 


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