Break-In Safety Tips
By Kathryn Harrell

Many break-ins occur in the Chapel Hill area, most of the targeted homes include students’ apartments and houses.

There are many precautions you can take to reduce the risk of a break-in to your home, such as learning what the vulnerable areas are. Take a moment to survey the outside of your home and see if there are any hiding spots or places where someone could easily break in.

Also, don’t fall into the habit of doing things only when you’re not home, such as closing blinds or curtains that are normally open when you’re there.

“Try and put yourself in the mindset of someone who’s wanting to break in. What would they be looking for? Is there an easy place to hide? Is it deserted behind your house? These are all things to think about, but especially pay attention to the lighting outside and how your shrubbery is situated,” says Chapel Hill Police Officer Lori Patiño-Sanchez.

Bolt locks are very important to reduce the risk of a break-in, although they do not always prevent a break-in.

“I mean it could happen at any time and there’s nothing we could do to prevent it because we had the door locked and they kicked it in, but I mean it’s always kind of on the back of our mind,” says UNC senior Michael Saclarides.

“Are there bushes that are maybe overgrown near the house where people can get behind them and hide? Are those bushes maybe obstructing an access to a window?” says Patiño-Sanchez.

Therefore you should keep your valuables in a locked drawer and out of plain sight.