Sept. 16--A recent spate of residential break-ins and burglaries in the area has led to a surge in inquiries with home security companies, business owners say.
"Things have been going pretty crazy with people calling, people who said they never would have gotten a security system but with what is happening lately, more and more people are thinking about it," said Anita Meyers, whose husband Kevin started Keystone Alarm Systems in Hanover in the mid-1990s.
Meyers said a recent incident outside McSherrystown where someone broke into a house while the resident was home has "neighbors spooked" in that area.
"It is kind of scary when people are coming into your house when you're in it," Meyers said.
West Manheim Police Chief Timothy Hippensteel said there had been a series of break-ins in his township in late August. Southwestern Regional Police were also investing a handful of burglaries, including one incident in Heidelberg Township in which a homeowner chased the intruder out, though not before credit cards, small electronic devices and money were taken.
Security experts and police say there are simple precautions that residents can take to reduce the chances of having their homes robbed.
"People are getting security systems, but they are neglecting some basic security things," Meyers said. "To get a level of security it's not necessary to do all that much."
"Most residential break-ins are random," said Larry Weinstein, of Channell Locksmith Shop/Law Security in Hanover. "There's a lot that people can do to secure themselves that don't cost a lot of money."
Hippensteel noted that all of the West Manheim incidents and some of the others occurred where homes and garages were unlocked.
"A majority of these have been unsecured doors," he said.
Hippensteel and others said locking doors and windows, and keeping valuables out of sight, are good first steps to avoiding robberies to homes and vehicles.
"A good quality deadbolt is an inexpensive thing a consumer can do to make their house safe," said Weinstein, who has been in the alarm and security business for 38 years. "A burglar looks for easy."
Lighting, especially motion-detector lighting, and bars in sliding glass doors are two easy steps homeowners can take to secure their houses, Meyers said.
"The motion-detector lights are especially effective because somebody comes around the back of your house and all of a sudden the lights come on. They don't know if it's a detector or somebody's in the house that saw them," Meyers said.
Residents should trim bushes and trees around their doors and windows to make them clearly visible, Weinstein added.
Having televisions and radios set on timers to come on when no one is home is another option, Hippensteel said.
"Make your home appear as though someone's there," he said.
Hippensteel said the recent robberies that took place while the residents where home is unusual.
"This is something I haven't seen in years or at all. They're a different breed of burglars that you don't usually see," said Hippensteel, adding that he recently met with other police chiefs in the area to compare notes and has a "few leads."
Meyers said security and alarm systems range from basic magnetic monitors on a couple of doors or windows to devices that are activated by the sound of breaking glass and seismically sensitive ones hidden under carpets.
"It all depends on what people are comfortable with," said Meyers, adding that homes with security systems are a third less likely to be robbed.
Whatever type alarm system a homeowner gets, Weinstein recommends that it be loud.
"You should be able to hear it inside the house and outside the house," he said. "Time and noise are the two worst enemies of a random residential burglar."
Weinstein, whose company also works on commercial projects, even recommends taking precautions when choosing a security company.
Alarm companies should be licensed and provide a three-day time period for residents to change their minds, said Weinstein.
"You're living with the system and living with the company that sells it," he said.
Meyers said some companies are offering free systems but make up the money with installation fees, escalating monitoring fees, and even charges when an alarm activities.
"Maybe that free thing isn't free when you read all the fees," she said. "There are a lot of fly-by-night companies,"
The recent surge in business is part of an overall steady increase in alarm installations, Meyers said. In years past, she said, a majority of Keystone's residential customers were people that newly moved into the area.
"They were used to having a security system," Meyers said. "Now we're finding more people that have lived here all their life who have had something happen or something happen to a neighbor giving us a call."
HOME SECURITY TIPS
Recommended steps homeowners can take to make their houses and vehicles more secure:
-- Lock doors and windows
-- Add lighting, including motion-detector lighting
-- Add extra locks, such as deadbolts to doors
-- Trim bushes and trees in front of doors and windows for clear visibility from the road and for neighbors
-- Install an alarm system on doors and windows
-- Change all locks when you move into a new home or loose your keys
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Copyright 2011 - The Evening Sun, Hanover, Pa.