LOCK IT OR LOSE IT

The Maplewood Police Department would like to remind all bicycle owners to secure and lock their bikes, both on the road and at home. We are in the midst of the warmer part of the year when the vast majority of bike thefts historically take place. Most thefts occur when bikes are left unattended and unsecured without a bike lock. In addition, residents have had bikes taken from open and unsecured garages, porches, and screen rooms. You can follow these simple rules to help keep your bike safe and secure:

1)      ALWAYS lock your bike with a good quality heavy duty bike lock. Cheap and flimsy locks can easily be defeated, so spending a little bit more on a quality lock is definitely worth the expense.

2)      If you keep your bike in a garage, close the door and lock it when storing your bike. An open garage door is an open invitation to a bike thief.

3)      Do not leave your bike unattended ANYWHERE without a bike lock. It only takes a few seconds for a thief to hop on it and ride it away.

4)      Bike thefts are often committed by juveniles who frequently ride two to a bike looking for another one to steal. Others are committed by opportunist criminals looking to sell the bike on the street for quick cash. Either way, if you observe any suspicious activity involving bicycles, or if you notice juveniles under 17 years of age riding without helmets, please call the police immediately and allow us to investigate.

For a Printable PDF of Maplewood Police Department's "PREVENT BURGLARIES" Pamplet, please click here.

 HOME SECURITY BASICS

1. BE ALERT. Watch out for your neighbors, and encourage them to watch out for you. Join the local Neighborhood Watch Program, or form a new one if necessary. Call the police immediately if something strikes you as being suspicious, and avoid the urge to rationalize what you feel is out of the ordinary. Many a would-be thief have been foiled thanks to the ardent eye of a sharp resident who thought to call the police. BE AWARE OF "RING AND RUN" TYPE ACTIVITY OR UNKNOWN PERSONS COMING TO YOUR DOOR AS THIS MAY INDICATE THAT A SUSPECT IS CHECKING TO SEE IF ANYONE IS HOME PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING A BURGLARY.

2. PRESENT YOUR HOME AS A SAFE HOME. Thieves will, by nature, seek out the easiest target. If your home looks well-cared for and well-protected, odds are that they will move on to another target. Never leave the empty boxes from gifts or newly purchased items for a burglar to see what new goodies are inside the home. A new computer or big screen TV is a sure invitation to crime. Remember to cut back bushes and shrubs that may conceal a burglar breaking in, and always remember to secure all doors and windows, including those to the garage. Expensive tools, such as snow blowers and shovels are the frequent targets of winter crime.

3. KEEP YOUR HOME WELL LIGHTED. The best measure of protection may be good security lighting both inside and outside your home. Report a non-functioning street lamp immediately. Use timers for interior lights when you are away. Leave exterior lights on from dusk to dawn, or employ motion-sensitive flood lamps. Remember that porch lights that are left on in the daylight may signify that there is no one home.

4. SET THE ALARM. Alarm systems are highly recommended, but they need to be set in order for them to work. Make sure you have the alarm company add second story window sensors to the system- many  thieves are agile and resourceful enough to bypass a good alarm system by climbing to the second floor.

5. ALWAYS LOCK DOORS AND WINDOWS. Burglars frequently enter through unlocked doors or windows, so it is imperative that any accessible points are secured, even if you are only leaving the home for a short time. Make sure all locking mechanisms and dead-bolts are functioning as designed, and replace hollow or easily defeated doors.

6. SECURE AND IDENTIFY VALUABLES. Important valuables and cash should be secured in a permanently mounted safe. Items, such as TV's, iPODS and computers should be engraved with the homeowner's Driver's License number, not Social Security number.


The Maplewood Police Department is fully dedicated to preventing crime, and apprehending those responsible for it. Please contact Sgt. Tutunjian of the Crime Prevention Unit at 973-762-3400 Ext. 7620 with any questions or to schedule a free Home Security Survey.