Sgt. John Convery JACKSON — Senior citizens in Jackson are learning to make their homes more safe and secure.
The External Affairs Committee at the Four Seasons Metedeconk Lakes adult community recently hosted a presentation by Jackson police Sgt. John Convery, who told the residents how to make their homes safe and secure.
Convery, a 13- year veteran of the Jackson Police Department, said, “There are no earth-shattering revelations when it comes to protecting your home. A lot of it is common sense.”
He said protecting one’s home does not have to be expensive. A community with a lot of good neighbors is the key, and knowing one’s neighbor can go a long way to promoting safety.
Unfortunately, he said, burglaries have been on the rise for the past few years and that is due in part to the increase in Jackson’s population. Most of the burglaries occur during daylight hours, because most people are out during the day, and also just after dark.
Convery said sometimes burglars dress like construction workers and come to a neighborhood in a construction truck. They will steal appliances from homes during daylight hours.
“Most intruders come in through an open door or an open window,” he said. “It’s that simple. But there are some who will kick the door in or break a window.”
Door locks or window locks that are hard to open due to lack of use need to be replaced, he suggested. Convery said residents should check all windows, including second-floor windows, before leaving home.
He suggested installing dead-bolt locks on doors, explaining that dead-bolt locks are more secure and harder to bypass.
“We want to make it as hard as possible for the burglar,” the sergeant said. “We don’t want to make it easy.”
Alarms are a more expensive option and are becoming very popular, according to the officer.
“Today we have alarms attached to a fire system and also to a help system,” said Convery. “Some of them are almost like a personal security system [worn around an individual’s neck] and these are getting more and more professional and we are seeing more of them.”
He suggested that if a resident decides to purchase an alarm system, he should get one that fits his needs.
Convery suggested that residents get a dog to discourage an intruder.
“It doesn’t have to be a big dog,” he said. “Just the sound of a dog barking. That can be the difference between hitting this house or that house. [Burglars may say to themselves,] ‘hey, wait a minute, I don’t want to deal with that.’ ”
Landscaping is also important, he said, asking residents to consider this question: “Can my neighbors see my door and my windows?”
Bushes or big evergreens in front of windows and doors can hide an intruder and provide cover for someone who is trying to break into a house. Criminals will look for homes where they will be hidden from view, he said.
He said if residents want to put some type of plant in front of a window, they should try a rose bush, a holly bush or a bayberry bush with thorns.
“Make it painful,” the sergeant said.
Lighting is also important and all it takes is a sensor attached to an outdoor spot light.
The least expensive way to go for additional security is to know your neighbors, according to the officer.
“If you see something unusual, call police and report it,” he said. “That is what we get paid for. If something doesn’t seem right, call us and we’ll check it out.”
Convery suggested that if a resident sees a suspicious vehicle, he should try to note the license plate number and state in which the vehicle is registered. Try to get a description of the vehicle and anyone who may be in it.
“Those things are priceless later on,” the sergeant said. “Some burglars do the same thing year after year and in different towns. So the more information the better.”
Trust your senses, Convery said.
“If something seems wrong, it probably is wrong,” he said. “Give us a call.”
Other ideas suggested by Convery included making one’s answering machine message generic; using light timers in different rooms to stagger the times that lights are on throughout a home; not leaving any keys in a car; and locking a car when no one is in the vehicle.
The officer explained that when criminals break into a car, they go through the glove compartment first to look for cash or a portable navigational system. He said a computer should never be left in a car.
He said residents should be aware of scams that are conducted by telephone or in the mail. Check out the offer before giving anyone money, the officer advised.
Other suggestions offered during the meeting included having the police phone number at the top of the list on one’s cell phone; having a neighbor’s cell phone number and home phone number on one’s cell phone so they can be called if there is a suspicion that something is wrong; and not leaving garage door openers in a car. Instead, put the garage door opener in your pocket.
Convery said neighbors looking out for neighbors is what it’s all about.