Crime & Safety

Attempted Southport Break-In May Be Linked to Westport Burglaries

Fairfield and Westport police are investigating a series of attempted and successful break-ins that occurred in the Southport/Greens Farm Road area early Sunday and Monday.

[Editor's Note: Incident information is supplied by the .]

Fairfield police believe that an attempted home break-in on Center Street in Southport that occurred early Sunday is connected to three burglaries to occupied residences reported in Westport.

Police were called to the Center Street home at 12:36 a.m. Sunday. The residents said they heard noises in the basement and their two dogs were barking, which lead them and police to believe someone had tried to enter the residence.

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Nothing was taken from the home, but police believe someone tried to gain entry through a damaged ground window on the outside of the residences.

This is under investigation. Three burglaries occurred in the Greens Farm area of Westport -- . Westport Patch published the following list of burglary prevention tips, supplied by the town’s police department:

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The burglary basics:

  • Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in. 
 
  • Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors. 
 
  • Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day. 
 
  • Keep your garage door closed and locked. 
 
  • Don't allow daily deliveries of mail or newspapers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly. 
 
  • Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time. 
 
  • Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary. 
 
  • Push-button locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. 
 
  • Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security. 
 

Don't tempt a thief: 

  • Lawn mowers, snow blowers, grills and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
  • Always lock your garden sheds and garages. 
 
  • Use curtains on garage and basement windows. 
 
  • Never leave notes on your door such as "Gone shopping."

Targeting the outside:

  • Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
 
  • Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders. 
 
  • Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

Locks:

  • No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation. 
 
  • Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen. 
 
  • When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Windows:

  • Most windows can be pinned for security. 
 
  • Drill a 3/16" hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame - place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:

  • An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.
 
  • Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.

If your home is broken into (If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door):

  • Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be inside.
 
  • Use a neighbor's phone or your cell phone to call police. 
 
  • Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence. 
 
  • Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles. 
 
  • Note the descriptions of any suspicious people. 

Other precautions you should take:

  • Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other "secret" hiding places -- burglars know where to look for hidden keys. 
 
  • Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home -- this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory. 
 
 
  • Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9­1­1 immediately.
  • Mark your valuables with an engraver. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
  • Form a neighborhood watch group. Police can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.

 


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