Don’t make your home an easy target for thieves: police

Halifax Regional Police are investigating two suspicious incidents in Dartmouth Wednesday night.

Police say around 11:20 p.m., a man awoke to noises outside his home in the 200 block of Windmill Road.

He looked outside and noticed two people on his property, one holding a flashlight. He also noted that a screen had been removed from a window but no entry had been gained.

Police were called, but were unable to locate the suspects.

At 11:30 p.m., an elderly woman heard several knocks at the front door of her Pelzant Street residence. She did not answer the door and didn’t see anyone in the area. She also contacted police, who again couldn’t locate anyone.

With a recent spate of break and enters in the Woodlawn Heights area, police say while it is tempting to leave windows and patio doors open for ventilation in the warmer weather, it’s an opportunity for thieves to gain entry to your home.

If you make it difficult for thieves to break-in, they’ll move on looking for an easier target. To reduce the risk, residents should:

• Keep windows closed when not at home. Ensure patio doors and low level windows are locked and secure when you turn in for the night.

• Keep garages and sheds locked.

Take steps to make homes appear occupied while you are on vacation, such as:

• Having mail and newspapers collected.
• Arranging to have grass cut.
• Leaving interior lights on or using timers to turn lights off and on.
• Ensure your property is well lit.
• Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on your property.
• Refrain from announcing your vacation plans on social media or on your telephone answering system

Police say if you observe suspicious activity in your neighborhood, try to get a good description of the person including height, weight, clothing and other details. Take a look to see if there is a vehicle parked nearby and try to get a license plate number, make and model of the vehicle if possible.