Warnings to Combat Burglaries Carry New Urgency During Recession

In Prince William County, another foreclosure hot spot, burglaries (from homes and other types of property) were up 4.7 percent through October compared with the same period last year. That's a big reversal from 2007, when burglaries over the course of the year were down 28 percent from 2006.

In Montgomery County, numbers are only available for the first three months of this year, but they show that residential burglaries were up almost 9 percent from a year earlier.

In the District, preliminary data shows an unusual pattern. Through May, burglary rates shot up by 10 to 26 percent each month compared with a year earlier. Then the rates declined by double digits each month, with October's rate 31 percent below last October's rate.

Break-ins are happening to cars parked in home driveways, too. "The number one crime in Montgomery County and other jurisdictions now is theft from auto," said Lt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman. Bad guys are going after handbags, laptops, iPods, GPS devices and cell phones, particularly in residential neighborhoods.

Think of these pocketable gadgets as stocking stuffers. The bad guys are. You need to keep them out of sight. Lt. Starks recommends keeping a bag in the car so you can conveniently tote the items between the car and home. Grab it whenever you head out the door for a drive.

Such common-sense moves can protect you from a break-in of your home or car, of course. A touch more cooperation among neighbors can help, too. Here are a few reminders from various experts:

If there are foreclosures in your neighborhood, keep an eye out for squatters who break into empty homes. Police may not recognize that they are not legitimate occupants, and without a homeowner to complain that their property has been entered illegally, police may not pursue the matter. You can take it upon yourself to call your local government's building code enforcement office, or the police department's non-emergency number, to let them know the home is vacant, and authorities may be able to monitor its condition.

Be particularly alert to signs that someone is illegitimately occupying a foreclosed home. The big concern would be that squatters might start a fire for cooking or warmth in a house where the utilities have been turned off.

Force yourself to get outside and interact with neighbors, even when it's cold. You can start a neighborhood watch program (ask the local police department for help). Even the simple act of letting trusted friends know when you expect to be out of town can go a long way toward discouraging break-ins.

Keep some lights on outdoors, and keep the shrubbery trimmed to cut down on hiding places.

Be discreet when discarding the boxes your holiday presents arrived in. Tear up that Nintendo Wii carton and tuck it among other recyclables. Why give the bad guys a shopping list?

And, most important, lock your doors and windows. (Don't forget the garage door!) You don't have to blow the budget on an electronic burglar alarm system when a couple of deadbolt locks can be very effective.

E-mail Elizabeth Razzi at razzie@washpost.com.