VICENZA -- With nicer weather coming and people traveling more frequently, the Directorate of Emergency Services here reminds community members to be ever vigilant about securing homes and privately owned vehicles.
During the Presidents' Day weekend, said Maj. Brian Mumfrey, DES/Provost Marshal, there were six break-ins--a mixture of car and home thefts-- in a few off-post communities.
Mumfrey advised that residents must get into the habit of locking homes and vehicles, and taking proper precautions to prevent burglary.
Staff Sgt. Joseph R. Hicks, a physical security specialist who works at DES, concurred.
"Local communities that are highly populated with Americans have seen break-ins on the rise," Hicks said. "We recommend that community members take all necessary mitigations to deter theft, thereby saving themselves some money and a headache."
are many precautions Soldiers, civilians and their family members can take, he said, beginning with their vehicles.
The easiest precaution is: do not leave anything of value inside. That includes fuel coupons, euro change, a GPS or other electronic devices/high value items in plain sight. These items, if seen, will only encourage a thief and make vehicles more susceptible to a break-in. Also, if you have a garage, park in it and make sure to lock the door.
Taking precautions at home is also important, Hicks said. It is especially key to make yourself less of a target to potential thieves. Put away anything that may alert someone that an American lives at the residence. This includes not only such items as team flags, yard decorations and large gas barbecue grills, but also activity like being in the driveway while wearing a military uniform.
"Although policy allows Soldiers to travel to and from their domicile in uniform, I always caution against it," Hicks said. "It only draws attention to where you live."
A few other home safety tips are as follows:
Fully lock all shutters on all floors when you leave and at night when going to bed.
Set the alarm if you have one. If you do not have one, consider working with the property owner to get one installed.
Be careful of whom you let into your home. Do not keep gold and silver jewelry on display, and not all in one place.
When going out of town, leave on a light or two and have a friend check on the place. And although it's tempting to do so, don't post on social media that you're going away; this includes "check-ins" on Facebook to alert friends and family that you're at the airport or train station heading somewhere exciting for the weekend.
Hicks said PMO personnel are available to conduct physical security inspections at private residences, whether someone is just moving into a home, has been there for a while, or has already had a break-in.
To schedule, go to the military police station on Caserma Ederle, fill out an inspection request, and turn it into the desk sergeant. An alternative is to call with the request, DSN 634-5833, comm. 0444-71-5833. Pre-move in inspections are encouraged before accepting a home through the Housing Office. Personnel sta�tioned at Camp Darby should contact the local MP station.
During the physical security inspection, inspectors get a "snapshot" of the outside of the home: fencing, types of illumination, and identifiable-as-American factors. Inside, they look at types of locks, bars on windows, intercom and camera systems, and more.
Once they have looked at everything, they provide recommendations for improvements, and residents can make changes as necessary.
For more information, call the PMO physical security office at the number provided above.
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