Mumbai Police share important tips to keep burglars at bay

Concerned over growing burglaries during summer months when people go on vacations leaving their homes unattended Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey wants citizens to keep their nearest police station informed about outstation visits In the last of its 3part series midday throws light on this seasonal challenge that the city faces every year and how people can safeguard their propertiesBurglars employ several methods to ascertain if a house is unoccupied during the course of their recces said an officer from Oshiwara police stationA burglar checks the CCTV cameras at a SoBo society in FebldquoIf the light is not peeking through the windows of your house locked from outside it could be on the target of house breakersrdquo said a Crime Branch officer from the cityldquoThe experienced burglars step out of their house during dusky hours to conduct recce of residential complexes And their recce goes on till 11 orsquoclock or midnight as people go to bed and most of the lights of the residential complexes go offrdquo said the officerDuring morning hours burglars look for clues through newspapers milk packets piled up outside locked homesldquoIf you have flipped off all the switches of lights of your house to go outstation during summer vacation it tempts the burglars to spend more time around your house to check the backside for easy accessrdquo the officer saidOnce the recce is done and a target house is finalised they strike during predawn hours when most people are in deep slumberBurglars try to hang out with security guards at tea stalls to ferret out info about status of flats wealth of residentsPiledup supplies outsideNot only in the evening some burglars also conduct recces during morning hours These criminals roam in posh areas to spot piledup daily supplies like milk packets newspapers flowers or garland packets for puja said another city Crime Branch officerldquoThere are many bungalows and big mansions in Bandra and Khar During summer vacations the burglars become very active and they conduct recce during morning hours on pretext of doing jogging They search for the piledup daily supplies at the doorstep of a house locked from outsiderdquo he addedThey also tuck pamphlets on doors to check if it is removed the next day if not it is an indication that the occupants are outldquoSince most of the people install CCTV cameras at the entrance the backside of huge mansions or bungalows remains vulnerable And the burglars exploit these points to gain easy access to the house and decamp with valuables cash and jewelleryrdquo the officer addedA Crime Branch officer from south Mumbai said old structures under renovation are another ideal spot for burglars ldquoThe scaffolding needs to be erected around old buildings for renovation So if the lights of houses at old buildings are switched off the scaffolding makes it easier for the burglars to climb up and target flats on upper floorsrdquo added the officerThe criminals use tools sometimes gas cutters during breakins which is mostly committed at predawn hoursPamphlets a new trickA senior Crime Branch officer from Thane said burglars have been adopting new ways to identify their targets and escape police surveillanceldquoBurglars enter residential complexes with pamphlets in the afternoon and leave them tucked at your main door The next day they again visit the same area to see if the pamphlets are removed or still kept as they were tucked the previous dayrdquo said the officer The crooks use the stairs he saidldquoIf the pamphlets are not removed the burglars start conducting further recce of the house to gain access But this modus operandi works in a residential complex that doesnrsquot keep a record of the visitorsrdquo the officer said Housing societies must stop random vendors from entering their premises or else the chances of burglaries would increase he advisedldquoSince most of the active members of the flats are out for work the burglars are not easily noticed by the elderly or women in the flats It is the reason they conduct recce in the afternoonrdquo the officer addedInfo through guards maidsBurglars often ferret out information about unoccupied flats through guards and house help by befriending them on the pretext of searching for jobs said an officer from Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar MBVV policeldquoBurglars spend more time at the tea stalls or pan shops near residential complexes to befriend security guards maids or local laundrymen to identify their next targetrdquo he said ldquoSo if you are going out on vacation never let anyone know about your travel plan like when are you going and coming backrdquo he saidThe officer said a few burglars even maintain a record of names of flat owners in elite housing societiesldquoThe burglars click the photo of the list of flat ownersrsquo names mentioned at the entrance of a building During summer vacation these burglars keep on checking their Facebook and Instagram profiles to see if they have posted any videos or photosrdquo he addedldquoIt is always safe to keep the social your social media locked to keep your whereabouts hidden from strangersrdquo said the officerDos and Donrsquots for summer vacationers Keep at least one light on to give the impression that the house is occupied Install at least one CCTV camera inside the house where valuables are kept keep checking the footage on your mobile alert the cops if you notice anything amiss Never announce your vacation plan on a public platform Keep good relations with your neighbours who can keep a good watch on your house in your absence Get police verification of maids done before hiring them Keep your social media profile locked to desist strangers from accessing your posts or post pictures and videos only after you have returned home Do not announce your absence through answering machines