community watch from bill metcalf

The holiday season is upon us and many of us will be spending Thanksgiving at home while the rest of us will be hitting the roads or skies to visit relatives and friends.  In all the hustle and bustle, don't let your guard down.  During the holiday season, let’s not make thieves feel like they are part of our community.

To help ensure that you do not become a victim, here are some hints from the Town of Cary Police Department:

  • Make sure that all doors, windows, and skylights are secured and check locks regularly to ensure they remain in good working order. While no lock is burglar proof, the more difficult it is to gain entry, the longer it will take, which increases the chances of burglars’ getting caught. 
  • Use variable light timers and motion-sensitive lights to activate lighting in and around your home. 
  • If utilizing an alarm system, make sure to have clearly visible signage stating the premises is protected by an alarm and set video systems to record day and nighttime activity. 
  • Ensure valuables are not visible from the street, especially high-end electronics. 

When traveling or out shopping:

  • Do not announce travel plans on social media.
  • Get a neighbor to pick up mail, paper, packages, and put out and take in trash can while you are gone.
  • When shopping, park in a well-lit parking lot.
  • Put your purchases in the trunk .. don’t leave items on your back seat.
  • Save the purchase of that big ticket item for your last stop. For instance, do not buy that big screen TV at BestBuy, put it in your car, and then drive over to Dick's.
  • Stay vigilant with fraud prevention -- don't carry a lot of cash, save receipts, and review credit card activity.
  • When you get home, don’t leave your purchases in your car.
  • Most importantly, if your car is parked in your driveway, keep it locked.

Your Community Watch Team cannot stress enough that now (all year long) be aware of your surroundings and, if you see something suspicious, report it immediately to 911 if it is urgent or 311 or 919-469-4000 if it is not an emergency situation.