ROSS TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT
There is a certain peace of mind that comes with having a home . Whether we rent , own , or are still at home with guardians or parents , being able to come home to the safety and security of one ’ s dwelling place provides a sense of security unlike anything else . Those who have had their homes entered in cases of burglary usually do not have any such comfort . Victims of burglary most often feel what can be described as a haunting feeling that lingers long after the incident . Some victims have been known to move out of their homes , while others install alarm systems and flood lights . One thing is universal with all victims of residential burglary – not one of them ever feels completely secure in their home again .
The FBI ’ s Uniform Crime Reporting ( UCR ) Program defines burglary as “ the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft .” To classify an offense as a burglary , the use of force to gain entry need not have occurred . The UCR Program has three sub-classifications for burglary : forcible entry , unlawful entry where no force is used , and attempted forcible entry . One can find useful information for prevention at www . burglaryprevention . org .
For the purposes of this writing , we are focusing on one major cause of residential burglary in the USA – COMPLACENCY . More specifically , a belief in “ It doesn ’ t happen in this neighborhood ”, which leads to leaving the home with windows and doors unlocked . Before the like-minded reader dismisses the remainder of this article , it is suggested one considers the following :
• There is NO community in the USA that is completely safe from home burglaries .
• In 2014 , a burglary was reported every 18.2 seconds nationally . That is 1,729,806 reported burglaries .
• Burglaries of residential properties accounted for 73.2 percent of all burglary offenses reported during the same year .
• The majority of homes are entered through unlocked windows and doors , and of all reported burglaries in 2014 , force was used less than 7 percent of the time .
• Although incidents are relatively infrequent , here , just like every other community in the North Hills , burglaries do occur in Ross Township .
• Nationally , as well as in our region , the majority of homes are entered during business hours , while residents are at work or away engaged in daytime activities .
There is one very important preventive measure that doesn ’ t cost a dime – LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS . This is true no matter how safe the neighborhood in which you live . The reason for what might seem excessive to some who don ’ t lock their homes takes a bit of insight into the problem , especially in relatively low-crime communities like Ross Township .
Burglars are known to move around in their areas of operation , looking for quiet neighborhoods in which to commit their crimes . A neighborhood that has never experienced the report of a burglary may very well be targeted . This is just the kind of area that provides a criminal with the element of surprise , with multiple unsecured homes that are ripe for the picking . As indicated , investigators often find no forced entry – no broken windows , no damaged doors and no evidence of lock tampering . Typically , area residents are often shocked , because up until the incident , problems in their neighborhood have been few and far between if any at all . The sobering truth of the matter is that while everyone else in the neighborhood starts locking their doors and windows , it is too late for the victims . They will never again feel the same about their homes , once that “ air ” of security has been violated .
The news is not all bad . Ross Township is in fact a safe community in which to live . Your police department is on the A-list for crime prevention , as well as crime clearances , with a highly skilled Patrol Division and a top notch Detective Division . However , we feel that any number of burglaries is too many . This is why we are asking that all residents , who may not be as security conscious as needed , please , recognize that we live in ever-changing times , where the days of leaving our homes unlocked are sadly a distant memory .
This mindset should include our vehicles as well . Just like our homes , the cars into which criminals enter are most often unlocked . Nationally , a theft was reported on average every 5.4 seconds in 2014 . Many of those were intrusions into automobiles . At times , credit card fraud is linked to such crimes , as victims are known to leave purses and wallets in their unlocked vehicles . When finding credit cards during their crimes , thieves almost always go on shopping sprees at the expense of their victims . Since unsecured homes are potential targets , surely we should give as much security conscious consideration to the vehicles parked outside .
A fact worth repeating is that forced entry occurred in less than 7 percent of all 1,729,806 burglaries that were reported in 2014 . This begs the question of how many victims would never have been victims , if they had simply locked their doors and windows !
The Ross Township Police Special Programs Division will be sponsoring or participating in the following events over the summer months :
Tuesday 6 / 14 / 16 7:00PM – Crime Watch Meeting . A question and answer session will take place , followed by a tour of the Police Station and an up close look at a patrol unit .
If available a K-9 Officer will be present for a short demonstration . Event held in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room at the Municipal Center
Thursday 8 / 4 / 16 7:00PM – Crime Watch Meeting . District Judge Richard Opiela will be present to speak about the duties of the District Courts and his role in the criminal justice and civil litigation systems .
Judge Opiela will explain the function of the Courts , punishments and alternatives after arrest . Event held in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room at the Municipal Center . oss Township
ROSS TOWNSHIP NEWS
Ross Township | Summer 2016 | icmags . com 47