Crime & Safety

Stay Safe During the Holidays

The Nassau County Home Security Advisory offers residents tips on staying secure.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and the Nassau County Police Department are advising residents to take precautionary measures to protect their homes and property this holiday season. 

They say the busy holiday season and the early nightfall seem to be the underlying factors in the increase of property crimes during the holidays. Syosset Patch recently got a call from a Syosset woman who claimed her home off of Berkley Lane was burglarized on Dec. 11. 

"They stole jewerly, cash, handbags," said the woman, who wished to remain nameless. "They ransacked the entire house."

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The woman said the detective covering the case wasn't surprised at the case, saying the department has been slammed with such crimes of recent. She said nobody was home at the time of the robbery. 

Nassau County Police said people can minimize potential criminal activity in their community. Here are some tips they offer: 

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Consider the following activities as suspicious:

1. A person or vehicle that stays in the same place for an unusual length of time.

2. A parked car with the engine running.

3. A person looking into cars or houses.

4. A person carrying unusual objects during the day or night.

5. Vehicles that drive around your block frequently and slowing down or speeding up.

6. A vehicle without lights on when arriving or leaving at night.

7. Unfamiliar vehicles such as those with out of state plates or tinted windows.

8. Persons going door to door.  If they ring or knock for a prolonged time, or go to a rear or side door.

9. Persons walking through your back yard.

10. Above all, people should rely on their intuition when they suspect unusual behavior or activity.

This time of the year, many residents are away from their homes and the following are some tips to consider when people leave their residence:

1. Make certain that your home is locked and secured.

2. Make sure your home security system is activated.

3. Consider using light timers.

4. Conceal expensive items such as gifts, from view.

5. Alert your neighbors if you plan on going away for an extended period of time.

6. If your home is adjacent or near a major highway or vacant property, pay particular attention to suspicious or abandon vehicles parked near these locations.

7. Any method that gives the appearance that your home is occupied may prevent a criminal from targeting your home. 

Police would also like to remind all residents to call 911 whenever they observe any suspicious activity. 


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