Be proactive in your neighborhood

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – January 10, 2012 – The Cedar Rapids Police Department is asking for the public to be a good neighbor by watching for suspicious vehicles and persons in

their neighborhood. Burglaries have been reported in which subjects were seen knocking at the front door of a residence. Later, it was discovered that a neighbor's home was broken into. It appears that if no one answers, the subject(s) go to the rear of the house and force entry into the home. These burglaries have been occurring in various parts of Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department is asking the public to call police when they see suspicious vehicles or people in their neighborhoods. Anytime you see someone at your neighbors home in an area they should not be (in the back yard, at the side of the house, in the garage, etc.) please call the police. It will help the dispatcher if you know your neighbors address, description of the people or vehicles and what makes them suspicious. Citizens can call the Cedar Rapids Police Department non-emergency number at 286-5491 or 911 if they see someone actually breaking into a house. They can also call Linn County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-CS-CRIME. If the information they give,leads to an arrest, they may be eligible for a reward. All calls are anonymous.

Citizens can reduce their chances of being a victim by taking simple precautions.

- LOCK YOUR DOORS. The Cedar Rapids Police are seeing both forced and non-forced burglaries.

- Use adequate exterior locks and/or single or double cylinder deadbolts on every exterior door.

- Use 2 – 3 inch screws to secure the strike plate on every exterior door.

- Leave various lights on when you are going to be gone, even during the day. Use timers on the lights and change the timing periodically.

- Use a timer on a radio.

- Record all serial numbers of electronics. If your property is stolen, it cannot be returned without the serial number.

- Properly trim trees and branches from the house. Do not provide a hiding spot for burglars or a way to climb to a second floor window.

- Have adequate security lighting. Light up your house, not just your yard. Install motion lights to light up your yard.

- Use Anti-lift slide devices on sliding doors and windows.

- Get to know your neighbors. Start a neighborhood watch. If you see someone at your neighbor's home, call them and check if anyone should be in their back yard or worse, in their house.

To start a Neighborhood Watch program, call the Cedar Rapids Police Department Crime Prevention Bureau. An informational packet will be sent to you to help organize your

neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch operates to educate participants in the principles of deterrence, delay and detection. The program depends on a communication network

organized with three levels of participants – the resident, block captains and co-captains, and a local law enforcement representative. Neighborhood Watch is a proven crime reduction program. But, like any self-help activity, its success depends upon you and your neighborhood. To get more information, call the Cedar Rapids Police Department Crime Prevention at 319-286-5440.

 Step up and be a good neighbor. Don't let crime happen next door or next time it might be at your house.

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