North King News

You Can Help Prevent Burglaries
Sammamish was recently ranked by MoneyGeek as the 13th safest among 660 small cities in the U.S. Sammamish has also been given the distinction by safewise of being the Safest City in Washington for the last two years. However, as part of a populated and growing region, Sammamish is not immune to crime.  (Read the current news release about burglaries in east King County: https://www.sammamish.us/.../police-investigating.../)

Wherever you live, it’s important to take steps to make your home less vulnerable to burglaries.  Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, most burglars will go elsewhere.

Burglary Prevention Tips

• Lock the doors and windows and turn on the alarm systems as part of your routine.

• Avoid posting on social media about vacation plans or expensive purchases.

• Secure your valuables at home.

• Take pictures of jewelry to assist in recovery if found.

• Lock gates, garages, and sheds after each use.

• Keep all doors and windows locked, even if you are just going out "for a minute."

• If a window is left open a few inches for ventilation, it should be locked to prevent someone from opening it more.

• Keep lights on, appear to be home.

• Mount cameras in front and rear of home, high enough to be out of reach.

• The King County Sheriff’s Office offers a downloadable residential security survey. Print off the checklist and conduct your own home security assessment: https://kingcounty.gov/.../safety/CPTEDcheckoff.ashx...

• Many insurance companies provide discounts for devices that make a home safer (e.g., deadbolt locks, window grates, and alarms), so be sure to check with your representative.

• Keep an eye out for suspicious activity around your neighborhood.

• Call 911 if you see any suspicious persons or vehicles in your neighborhood.

The Sammamish Police Department is a contract partner of the King County Sheriff's Office. The department has 30 full time officers. Learn more at https://www.sammamish.us/government/police.

Original source can be found here.