Fayette County Georgia Sheriff's Office

In Fayette County most burglaries are residential burglaries. Most of them occur during the daytime hours when residents are at work or school. Often times it starts with a person ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door. If a resident answers, the person will usually ask for directions or make up a name and ask for a person that doesn’t live there. The would-be burglar will usually leave that home and go to another if they encounter someone at the residence.

This is the time to call 9-1-1 to report a suspicious person or their behavior. If you feel that this is not an emergency and don’t want to call 9-1-1, you can call 770-461-HELP (4357).

If no one answers the door, there is a strong likelihood that entry may be attempted to the house. This is usually accomplished by kicking in a door or sometimes smashing though a window.

It is strongly encouraged that residents acknowledge individuals verbally through the locked and closed door. Do not open the door! If a resident does not recognize the individual (or the vehicle in the driveway if they are able to see one) they should be calling 9-1-1 while confronting the individual verbally through the locked and closed door. Let the individual know that you are calling law enforcement officials.

On more than one occasion Fayette County Deputies have responded to similar suspicious person/behavior calls and made arrests of individuals who were in the process of or just committed a burglary.

Here are few tips on preventing burglaries and thefts;

Have a burglar alarm and have it monitored by a reputable alarm company. Make sure the alarm is audible outside the residence. Make sure to turn the alarm on every time you leave, no matter how short a period of time you may be away.
Make your home look occupied and make it difficult to break in.
Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or to go to bed.
Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all outside doors.
Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside.
Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks or rods are recommended for better security.
Leave lights on when you go out at night. If you are going to be away for an extended length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off in the daytime.
Keep your garage door closed and locked.
Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or have a friend or neighbor pick them up regularly.
Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going to be away for an extended time.

Don’t Tempt a Thief:

Lawn mowers, power equipment and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
Trailers should have hitch locks to prevent towing.
Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping”.

Locks

Locks can be effective if used! Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice in your situation.
Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
When moving into a new home, change the locks.

Outside

Have adequate lighting. Motion-sensitive lighting is recommended for outside.
Trim trees and shrubs so they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.

Windows

Most windows have latches or locks, but you can add extra security by pinning them. Simply drill a 3/16” hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms

An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market.
It is recommended you have an alarm system and that you use it! Alarm systems are only useful when you remember to turn them on.

Other precautions you should take;

Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places…burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust. Or, purchase and install an outside “lock-box”.
Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers. Keep a copy in a safe place away from home…this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
Be a good neighbor! If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number or other special identifier (not social security number) with an engraver. This makes it harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for law enforcement to identify and recover.

Vehicles

Do not leave valuables in plain view: (GPS devices, lap tops, cell phones, MP3’s, wallets, purses)
Do not leave windows or sunroof open.
Do not leave doors unlocked.
Do not leave keys in the vehicle.
Do not leave the garage door opener in plain view.
Do not leave out items with personal information.
Do not move valuable items to the trunk while in plain view.
Slow down and use common sense before you leave your car.

If all of these steps are taken, the chances of you becoming a victim are greatly reduced.

Click here for Crime Prevention Tips, Home security and personal security tips for citizens, Tips for senior citizens to combat fraudulent activity booklet.

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