Police Offer Burglary-Prevention Tips

Big Island police are providing the public with tips to prevent burglaries during the holiday season.

The list begins with advice to report suspicious activities in your neighborhood. It also includes:

• Lock your doors and windows when you leave home.
• Be cautious about posting your location on social networking sites as that can be used to determine if someone is home.
• Become familiar with your neighbors and their vehicles.
• If unfamiliar vehicles are seen driving around the neighborhood, provide the police with a description of the vehicle, the license plate number and descriptions. Ask your neighbors to do the same.
• Beware of strangers knocking on doors as they may be burglars checking to see if a house is unoccupied. Report to police immediately any suspicious persons coming to your home.
• Don’t leave a house key hidden outside your home.
• Keep your home well-lit.
• Keep trees and bushes trimmed so they won’t provide cover for burglars.
• If you come home and see evidence that someone has been in your home and may still be there, leave the area and call police immediately.

Call 911 to report a burglary in progress or if you encounter a suspicious person on your property. To report suspicious persons in your neighborhood, call the police department’s non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Anonymous tips can be called to Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.