As a national average, July is the month with the highest number of reported burglaries.  The reasons behind this statistic include:  unoccupied homes while families vacation; fully-bloomed landscaping providing natural cover for criminal activity; and reduced home security to take advantage of the height of the summer season.  A majority of residential burglaries occur during the day and with no forced entry.

The Village of LaGrange Police Department would like to provide Village residents with the following crime prevention suggestions to deter the possibility of a residential burglary:

1.         Keep all doors closed and locked, even when you are at home.  Although not as secure, when you are naturally ventilating your home with open entry doors, a locked storm door provides some measure of deterrence. Always lock your doors if you are leaving your home or going to sleep.

2.         Similar guidelines apply to windows.  Do not leave windows open when you are away.  Be sensible about which windows you leave open overnight for ventilation.  Use window locks.

3.         Secure sliding glass doors.  Place a metal rod or piece of hardwood in the track and install vertical bolts.  These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.

4.         Lock the door to an attached garage.  Do not rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.

5.         Make your residence appear occupied, even when no one is at home.  Use timers on lights, radios and TV=s.  Window treatments should be maintained with a normal, everyday appearance.

6.         Consider decorative outdoor lighting.  It is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders.

7.         Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate.  You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway to make it appear that you are present.

8.         The Village of LaGrange Police Department provides a free vacation watch service to discretely check on your home while away.

 9.         Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways.  While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars.

10.       LaGrange is a caring and community-oriented Village.  If you hear or see something that is suspicious or just out of the ordinary, please do not hesitate to call 911.

For more crime prevention information including a vacation watch request, please contact the LaGrange Police Department at 708-579-2334.

Article provided by Village of LaGrange