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Howard County police are reminding citizens to keep their homes secure now that warm weather has begun.
 During the warm spring and summer months, police receive an increased number of reports of burglaries from open and unlocked garages and sheds. Residents frequently leave garage doors open while doing yard work or spending time outdoors. Burglars use this opportunity to steal property from the garage and gain access to the interior of the home.
In 2009, of the 132 garage and shed burglaries in the county, 59 percent had no signs of forced entry. Many of these burglaries may have been prevented if residents took simple steps to secure their property. The months of June and August had the most incidents, with 16 burglaries of sheds and garages in each month.
Police advise residents to follow these tips to prevent becoming a victim.
- Always keep all doors, including the garage door, closed and locked, even if you are home or on the property.
- Ensure that the door leading from the garage to the interior of the home is also locked.
- Always lock your vehicles, and remove valuable property. A garage door opener in an unlocked car is like a key to your home.
- Report suspicious people or activity by calling 911. It is always helpful if you note the make, model and tag number of any suspicious vehicles in your neighborhood.
Learn more about crime prevention at HowardCountySafety.org, where you can also sign up for e-mail notifications about safety messages.
If you see suspicious activity, call the anonymous tip line at 410-313-STOP. If you see a crime in progress, call 911.
- Safety tips provided by the Howard County Police Department
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