Security Seeker for Home & Business Owners

Farmington, CT, PD Gives Seniors Safety Tips

You leave the interior door between the garage and the house open because you’re only going to the store for a few minutes.

You haven’t checked if your house alarm is working in months, or better yet, you don’t bother to turn it on when you leave.

It takes the average burglar about two to two-and-a-half minutes to grab what he’s looking for and leave, said Farmington police detective Brian Killiany.

But in that time you could lose thousands of dollars or an heirloom collection that represents a lifetime of treasured memories.

“The elderly are excellent targets because they tend to forget all the stuff they’ve accumulated over the years,” Killiany told seniors during a home-safety seminar Tuesday at the Community and Senior Center. “And immediately after you’ve been burglarized you feel violated and spend tons of money upgrading security.”

The seminar was part of a community policing initiative designed to offer some simple yet cost-effective tips to make seniors and their homes less of a target.

The seniors meet regularly on Tuesdays and enjoy presentations on a variety of topics, from exercise to home health care to safety issues, said Nancy Parent, director of Recreational and Community Services.

“The value of having something like this is in being informed,” Parent said. “It’s being not informed that creates fear.” 

Burglars are “sneak thieves,” Killiany said. They prefer to come in through an easy access entry when no one is home. “Most burglaries occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., which is usually when mothers run errands because the kids are at school,” Killiany said. “They don’t want to interact with you. They do their homework. Most professional burglars are smart; they know when someone’s home.”

There are easy steps to take to make it harder for someone to break in, Killiany told the group. Most seemed like common sense, but as the detective pointed out, you actually have to use them.

Use solid doors, not hollow ones, for exterior entrances. If you don’t have deadbolt locks, buy expensive ones that are attached through to the stud. Leave the key in when you’re home — but take it out and actually lock the deadbolt when you leave. 

If you have an alarm system, know how to use it properly — and make sure you actually use it. Have the system installed by a licensed reputable company, not your cousin who dabbles in electrical work, and if possible, make sure the alarm is loud.

“Remember, the average burglar takes only two minutes,” Killiany pointed out. “They’ll be long gone by the time we get there. But if you have a noisy alarm, it will scare them off. You want to bring as much attention to your home as possible.” 

Other tips included making sure bushes and plants are trimmed back and don’t offer good hiding places for thieves. Knowing your neighbors — and having them know your habits, is a good idea as well. “They know whose car belongs and whose doesn’t,” he said. “It’s not such a bad thing, having nosy neighbors.”

The bottom line, Killiany said, residents need to make good security practices a habit, not an afterthought. “After you’ve been burglarized you feel violated,” he said. “It gives you the willies, your home is your castle. I know people who have actually moved after being burglarized because they felt someone else was sure to break in again.”

Frank Decicco admitted he took Killiany’s words to heart and will be installing deadbolts as soon as possible. “I think it was really informative,” the 78-year-old said. “I keep putting it off, but the deadbolt all the way into the stud is a good idea. I definitely learned quite a bit. Now the thing to do is act on it. No more excuses.”