Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • March 11, 2009 Ramsey On Feb. 26, Ramsey Police investigated a burglary at a residential property off East Crescent Avenue in the borough. Entry had been made through the front door, which was shouldered, between 6:30 and 9:45 p.m. The bedrooms were ransacked and jewelry was reported stolen. In the wake of this crime, the Ramsey Police Department is offering prevention tips and free on-site security evaluations for homeowners who request them. Police offer prevention tips after recent burglary The Ramsey Police Department urges residents to take the following steps to protect themselves against burglary: Make the house difficult to enter. A burglar may bypass a home if it requires too much effort. Be a good neighbor. Neighbors should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbors on all sides of your home. A neighbor can watch your home when you are away and can report suspicious activity to the police. A neighbor can remove packages or newspapers left on your doorstep and can check your property to see that all is well. An open window or one covered by bushes may be a reason your home is targeted by a burglar. A dark home sends the message to burglars that you are not home. Light timers can be purchased almost anywhere. They can also be used to turn on radios and televisions. Interior lighting is necessary because it appears that someone is home. Outside lighting is also very important. Often burglars will target dark homes with little or no outside lighting. It is a lot easier for someone to stand in one location and pry Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from ome “Keep preheat time to a minimum when using a conventional oven. Preheating is required for baking, but not for broiling or roasting”. 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick Open Sundays 9-3 201-652-5666 Hank Says... open a window or door if no one can see the individual. Burglar alarm systems can be an effective deterrent. All systems should have an audible siren. The siren should sound long enough for the neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police. The Ramsey Police Department Crime Prevention Bureau provides free home security surveys. A trained police officer will provide an on-site security evaluation. For a free evaluation, contact Sergeant Tim Flanagan at (201) 327-2402. According to FBI statistics, there were approximately 2,183,746 burglary offenses committed nationwide in 2006. That year, burglary offenses cost victims an estimated $4 billion in lost property; the loss per burglary offense was $1,834. Of the burglary offenses that year, 66.2 percent were of residential structures. Of the burglaries for which the time of occurrence was known, 63.1 percent of residential burglaries took place during the day. Among burglaries of nonresidential structures when time of occurrence was known, 56.7 percent occurred at night. The Ramsey DARE program, in conjunction with the Ramsey Municipal Drug Alliance, is presenting a free class for parents. Entertainment will join with instruction, as several speakers will be on hand to offer insight and intelligence on local underage and binge drinking trends. The one-hour block of instruction has been designed in response to multiple requests made by parents of local teens. Included will be several firsthand accounts, provided by local parents who have found themselves suddenly thrust into a battle against teenage substance abuse. The class falls just days before this year’s prom, and offers parents a valuable opportunity to increase their awareness, improve their strategies and gain access to the important DARE offers class for parents community resources. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall of the Ramsey High School. Enter via the Prospect Street doors. Light refreshments served. No guests under the age of 18, please. Parents who have been confronted with an underage drinking incident, medical emergency, or drug related rehabilitative effort, can consider sharing their stories prior to March 25. Privacy will be respected, and identity will remain confidential. The insight and experience may be invaluable to other unsuspecting parents, and could save the life of a young neighbor. Contact Patrolman Tim Shoemaker at (201) 327-2400 or dare@ramseypd.com. ree f