HoCo Residents Reminded To Keep Exterior Doors Shut, Locked

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — As the weather continues to warm up, the Howard County Police Department reminds residents to always keep all doors, including overhead garage doors, side garage doors and glass sliding doors, closed and locked. The doors leading from the garage into a home should remain locked, too.

"In warmer months, the police department typically sees an increased number of burglaries in which criminals walk into open garages and through the unlocked interior door leading inside the house. Detectives also see an increased number of cases in which burglars walk into homes by opening unlocked rear sliding glass doors," the department stated. "Some residents forget to lock sliding glass doors, especially in the back of the home. This has been a popular point of entry for burglars, who will move on from a locked slider until they find one that is unsecured and easily opened."

The police department also reminded residents to keep their vehicles locked at all times, even when parked outside the home.

The police department offers the following tips to residents:

• Always keep all doors, including your garage door and rear slider, closed and locked. Ensure that the door leading from your garage to the interior of your home also is locked.
• Always lock your vehicles and remove valuable property. Remember that a garage door opener in an unlocked car is like a key to your home.
• Keep valuables in an unexpected place. For example, don’t keep your most valuable jewelry in your jewelry box. Burglars want to get in and out quick, so don’t make it easy for them to find your valuable or sentimental items.
• Always report suspicious activity or people by calling 911.