Residents can Prevent "Easy Target" Theft by Securing Garages
The Dublin Division of Police remind Dublin residents that they can make a difference in reducing residential theft by simply closing and securing their garage doors and eliminating their risk as an easy target.
"In the summer especially, residents leave garage doors open and unattended because of the increase in garage access due to yard work, outdoor activities, and foot traffic from family members going in and out of the house," Interim Chief of Police Lt. Mike Epperson said. "By securing garage doors and the door leading from the garage to the home, residents can significantly reduce the amount of "easy target" theft seen in Dublin neighborhoods."
By leaving garage doors open, residents take the unnecessary and much avoidable risk of losing valuable items and often don't realize things are missing right away. Tools, golf clubs, unlocked vehicles and bicycles are left in clear view to thieves. Residents who keep garage doors open are more at risk to be victims of theft. Thieves see an open garage as a fast, easy target.
"The Dublin Police, noticing open garage doors when driving through neighborhoods on evening patrols, call over 1000 residents a year in the late evening hours to remind them to close their open garage doors. This program has resulted in a nearly 50 percent drop in theft from garages," Epperson said. "We know this practice can be effective."
Even if items in residential garages are locked up, secured and safe from theft, more often than not, the door leading from the garage to the inside of the home is left unlocked. This also increases residential risk of burglary and even home invasion.
"By securing garages, items in garages, outside doors leading into homes and car doors, residents will deter thieves away from their property and help reduce the amount of avoidable theft in Dublin," Epperson said. "Neighbors need to band together in this practice of securing garage doors and watch out for each other to eliminate these kinds of theft from their neighborhoods completely."