Two residential burglaries have been reported to Readington Twp. Police between 10/01/2016 and 10/11/2016. The first incident took place in the Stanton section of Readington and was an attempt to enter a residence. During this incident the electrical meter was removed from the house in order to bypass the alarm system. The tampering with the electrical system caused other homes on the street to lose power. The actors never gained entry into the home. The attempted burglary took place during evening hours under cover of darkness. The second incident was a reported burglary of a residence on Flintlock Rd. Here the suspects forced the front doors open and took valuables from the home. This burglary was reported on 10/11/2016 although the exact date could not be verified.

Residents should be assured that we are diligently working to solve these crimes, but we can not do it alone, we need the help of our residents. We can't be everywhere; we need you to be our eyes and ears. You know your community the best; you know who and what belongs. Some residents observe something they know is not right but hesitate to call the police because they do not want to "bother" us. Please "bother" us, that is what we are here for. Please report any suspicious activity immediately.

Below are some crime prevention suggestions from the police department.

Burglary Prevention Tips

Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks.

Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a wooden dowel rod in the track and install vertical bolts. This will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.

Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.

Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Make your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, to help detercriminals.

Keep the perimeter of your home well lit. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders as well as highlight a house.

Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.

Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.

Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. Large and ornate hedges may be beautiful but they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.

Coordinate a "good neighbor program" to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community. Become acquainted with your neighbors.

The premise of a good neighbor program:

Working together to solve neighborhood concerns. Helping the police by raising awareness and reporting any unusual activities as they occur. (You know best what "normal" activity in your neighborhood is.) Immediately reporting suspicious persons / vehicles to the police. Look out for your neighbors.

Car Burglary Prevention

Vehicle burglaries are very difficult cases to solve because the burglars usually leave very little physical evidence behind after a car burglary has occurred. These crimes usually occur at night, when it is less likely the thieves will be seen. In order to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a car burglary we have provided some easy tips to follow.

Always close your windows and lock your car doors. An open window or unlocked door is an invitation to a criminal.

Remove loose valuables from your vehicle. This includes purses, wallets, cellular phones, laptop computers, and briefcases. A car burglar loves to see items that can be grabbed easily and carried away without much effort. A smashed window is all it takes to gain access to those loose items.

Report suspicious persons seen wandering around in parking lots or looking into cars as they walk by you can even call and remain anonymous.

Keep a list of serial numbers for your commonly used electronic equipment. Even if you plan on never leaving a cellular phone or laptop computer in your car, you should record all of the following information:

Make of Item

Model Number

Serial Number

Having this information available is necessary in order to enter the items into the computer database. This will aid the police in trying to locate the items if the offender(s) are found with them or if they are pawned. This will also ensure the property is returned to the rightful owner.