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Concerned about recent neighborhood burglaries?
Here are tips on keeping your home and neighborhood safe.
Detective Fred Caruso spoke about the recent Stratfield break-ins at the last Stratfield Village Association meeting. He did emphasize that this is fairly common to see when the weather gets warmer and people start sleeping with their windows open.
He also stressed the following tips to keep Stratfield safe:
  • Close and lock your downstairs windows at night.
  • Do not leave electronics, handbags, or other valuables in plain sight from any window or door.
  • BE ALERT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. The best way to enable the Fairfield Police Dept. to catch these burglars is with YOUR help. If you see a suspicious car on your street, call the police (254-4808) and ask them to just drive by and check it out. It does no harm at all just to call.

    Here are other tips to help keep your home safe, and what to do if you have been burglarized.
  • Scrub out any strange chalk signs outside your house; it could be code left by thieves to tell other thieves about your security.
  • Take Handbags and wallets upstairs at night time.
  • Photograph valuables, it will help with any insurance claims.
  • Keep small valuable items like laptops and mobile phones away from easy viewing.
  • Always ask any utility company caller to show you their identity card. A genuine caller will be pleased you asked and will pass you their card. Examine it carefully before allowing them entry, if your unsure phone the respective company first.
  • Make use of timer switches to turn on and off lights around the house when you're not in.
  • Having great home security is only effective if you use it.
  • Do not admit persons asking to use your telephone. Offer to make the call for them.
  • Secure all outside doors with deadbolt locks.
  • Know your neighbors and work out a mutual watch and warning system to prevent burglaries and other break-ins.
  • Know the names and addresses of the people doing work at your house.
  • Do not hide spare keys. Give keys to trusted neighbors.

    If You Are Burglarized
    If you arrive home and suspect that your house has been burglarized, and have not as yet entered the house, go to a neighbor's house and notify the Fairfield Police Department by calling either 9-1-1 or 254-4808. Advise the person answering the telephone as to your location and the address of your home. If requested, stay on the line to provide any additional information, which will assist the responding patrol units.
    The responding officers will check your house first, and then will come to your location and advise you of their findings. If in fact your house was burglarized, the officers will conduct an investigation and will need your assistance in providing a list of the stolen items. They may also request you to submit to a seat of fingerprints for elimination purposes if any fingerprints are located within the residence.
    If you arrive home and have entered your residence, and then discover the house has been burglarized, call the Fairfield Police Department at 9-1-1 or 254-4808. If you believe that the suspect may still be in the house, leave immediately and go to a neighbor's and follow the previously described directions. If you are confident that the burglar has left, call from your home as directed above. Do not touch anything! You could possibly destroy valuable evidence. Stay calm, and you may be asked to stay on the line with the dispatcher until the responding officers arrive.
    You will be asked to compile a list of the stolen items. Please include the make, model, serial numbers, color and value. If you are confronted by a burglar in your home, remember that most burglars are not violent unless cornered. Once the burglar has fled, notify the Police Department immediately by calling 9-1-1, and advise the dispatcher of this information and the direction the burglar fled in, if available.
    Types of Suspicious Incidents
    People knocking on your door for various reasons may actually be burglars attempting to check if your home is vacant. It is important that the Fairfield Police Department is made aware of strangers in the neighborhoods – cars or pedestrians. If you think something is suspicious, call the police. Report unfamiliar vehicles parked or riding back and forth in the neighborhood. When reporting a suspicious vehicle it is important to provide the dispatcher as much information as possible, such as; the license number, state or color of the plate, and the description of the vehicle. This information will allow the officers to search for the vehicle while in route to your neighborhood.
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