From the Desk of RVCPD Commissioner Randy Dodd
As car thefts soar across our nation, the Rockville Centre Police Department has remained vigilant to protect our residents and their property. While we have had few cases here in our Village, a recent incident occurred where a criminal entered a resident’s home to retrieve car keys before stealing a vehicle. Our Department continues to aggressively investigate this incident and are utilizing camera footage and Automated License Plate Readers along with other policing tools to apprehend the subjects. As always, our officers will continue to actively patrol our neighborhoods at night, specifically searching for suspicious vehicles and individuals in hopes of preventing any future thefts.
This recent burglary serves as an important reminder for all residents to take preventative steps to secure your homes, garages, and motor vehicles. The following burglary prevention tips will help to make you and your family safe while also showing you how to become a part of the Rockville Centre Police team, so that we may serve and protect our Village, together.
- Lock all windows, and exterior doors, gates, or garage doors that provide entry into your property.
- No lock, regardless of its quality, can be 100% effective. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.
- Do not leave car keys, purses, money, or valuables in sight of any windows.
- While at home, store your key fob in a metal box to block the electromagnetic field.
- Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended.
- Ensure your exterior lights are mounted out of reach, so a burglar can’t easily unscrew a light bulb.
- Use a timer to switch lights on and off at various hours during the day and night, to make it look like someone is home when you are away.
- 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 and window that you do not typically open.
- Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately.
- Consider getting a monitored alarm system with audible warnings to scare intruders away. With a monitored alarm system, you would get a phone call from your alarm company first to assess the situation and, if the situation warrants, the police would be called to the scene.
- Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers, or flyers to 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.
Here are some ways to help protect your vehicle:
- Keep your vehicle locked at all times, even while driving. Unlocked doors are easy targets.
- When parked, never leave your keys in the car. Ensure windows are fully closed to prevent a thief from trying to open the door from the inside.
- Never leave your car running and unattended. Even if your doors are locked, a carjacker only has to break a window to get in.
- Avoid leaving valuables inside your vehicle. Keep high-value items like phones, purses, or other valuables hidden. Put valuables in your trunk before you get where you’re going.
- Do not leave your vehicle title in the car.
- Install an anti-theft system in your vehicle if it doesn’t have one. Thieves are reluctant to steal vehicles if they know the cars can be recovered quickly. Many insurers offer discounts for the types of systems listed below.
- Thieves prefer to work in the dark. Be particularly cautious at night about where you park your car. Park it in a well-lit area if possible.
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