Tips On Avoiding Home Burglary From Seattle Police Crime Prevention Coordinator

Terrie Johnston, Seattle Police North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator,  has sent out some helpful tips on how to avoid a home burglary.

She states in her email that there have been about 85 reported burglaries in the North Precinct neighborhoods ( about 35 in total) since the beginning of June. Of those, 45  were non-forced entry burglaries, meaning that the burglar entered through an open or unlocked door or window, or had a key. 

Here are some tips she offers from lessons learned from this month's burglaries:

• Opened windows on the upper floors may be just the opportunity the would-be thief is seeking.   Crooks used plastic lawn chairs, patio furniture, ice chest, garden pots and in one case a ladder to climb up onto the 2nd floor and came in through open windows. 
• Pet doors were the method of entry in several of the burglaries, so be aware.  
• Back doors were popular this month, so reconsider how easy it is for your watchful neighbors to see onto your back yards. 
• The victims’ tools which were left out were used to pry open a rear basement door, and again on the door leading into the upstairs. 
• Decorative rocks and bricks were thrown through back windows in a few of these crimes. 

Terrie is available to schedule a free assessment of your home’s security. She can be reached by email at  terrie.johnston@seattle.gov or by phone at 206-684-7711.