Intruders Strike Hilliard Homes

HILLIARD -- Neighbors in one Hilliard community are on alert Monday after several local break-ins, ABC6/Fox28 News’ Steve Levine reports.

While the burglaries appear to be connected, police say they do not seem to be linked to dozens of other thefts striking nearby Upper Arlington.

Speaking to ABC6/Fox28 News Monday, Tara Fisher showed where thieves tried to bust through a window to get into her home.

“[It’s] just little unnerving,” she said.

Not all of Fisher’s neighbor, however, got so lucky. Burglars managed to get into three homes, stealing TVs, laptop computers and cell phones.

Fisher said, “It definitely wakes you up! You have to pay attention!”

To that end, she’s taking action by beefing up her home alarm system and adding extra locks to her screen door to keep out thieves.

“Even if you left it unlocked, you cannot open it more than two inches.”

Here are some easy, basic tips for home security:

 - Plan to "burglarize" yourself. You'll discover any weaknesses in your security system that may have previously escaped your notice.

 - Lock up your home, even if you go out only for a short time. Many burglars just walk in through an unlocked door or window.

 - Change all the locks and tumblers when you move into a new house.

 - For the most effective alarm system, conceal all wiring. A professional burglar looks for places where he or she can disconnect the security system.

 - Your house should appear occupied at all times. Use timers to switch lights and radios on and off when you're not at home.

 - If you have a faulty alarm that frequently goes off, get it fixed immediately and tell your neighbors that it's been repaired. Many people ignore an alarm that goes off periodically.

 - A spring-latch lock is easy prey for burglars who are "loiding" experts. Loiding is the method of slipping a plastic credit card against the latch tongue to depress it and unlock the door. A deadbolt defies any such attack. It is only vulnerable when there is enough space between the door and its frame to allow an intruder to use power tools or a hacksaw.

 - If you lose your keys, change the locks immediately.

 - Before turning your house key over to a professional house cleaner for several hours, make sure the person is honest and reputable as well as hardworking. Check all references thoroughly. If the house cleaner is from a firm, call your local Better Business Bureau to check on the firm's reputation.

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Reporter: Steve Levine
Web Producer: Sean RoweIntruders Strike Hilliard Homes