New Canaan Police are urging residents to protect their homes against burglars as the summer gets underway.
Many residents go away when school lets out and “burglars like to target houses that are unoccupied,” according to Lt. Marc DeFelice, the department’s public information officer.
“They’ll go to a house when people are away on vacation or out for the day, even just out to dinner or grocery shopping—in that short amount of time,” he said.
The town, which has seen eight residential burglaries so far in 2024—including two in May—typically sees a rise in burglaries in the summer, DeFelice said.
Residents should report suspicious activity to police, including strangers in the neighborhood who come to the doors of homes, and should notify neighbors when they’re going away so that someone is checking on the house, DeFelice said.
“Let neighbors know who should be on your property—landscapers or other services,” he said. “And keep houses neat and clear at points of entry—windows and doors—because burglars tend to have a place to hide where there are trees and shrubbery, to gain easy access. Do not leave keys or a passcode to the house in plain view or in obvious places, because burglars tend to know where those are.”
As with prevention against stolen vehicles, residents also are urged to use external motion-sensing lights, set alarms, install surveillance cameras that could help investigators—Ring or similar brands, so we can track down suspects, he said.
It’s also a good idea to set indoor timer lights such that one room is not illuminated for an extended period of time, DeFelice said.
“Obviously, lock all windows and doors and set the alarm every time you leave the house, even if you’re just going out for a quick dinner or grocery shopping, because in that small timeframe they will enter,” he said.
Because burglars also tend to go straight for a master bedroom to look for jewelry, a safe is a “great investment,” DeFelice said.
“We’ve had cases where jewelry and high-end items are in safes bolted to the floor, and it’ a great deterrent,” DeFelice said.
New Canaan residents seeking home security recommendations on their own properties are asked to contact Officer Roy Adams, who is trained in the field, by calling the main NCPD number at 203-594-3500.