Police: Increase in Burglaries in Port Washington

 is asking members of the community to protect their homes against burglars.

Within the last few weeks, police say they’ve seen an increase in residential burglaries.

“We haven’t had a burglary since December 2010, until April when it spiked,” said Assistant Chief James Salerno.  

There have been four burglaries in April, although one does not appear to be related, Salerno said.

Police say they have increased patrols in Port Washington in an effort to deter or apprehend any intruders. Due to the ongoing investigation, the specific areas are not being mentioned. 

Aside from locking windows and doors, residents can best protect against burglary by using an alarm system if they have it, as well as illuminating all entrances to homes with outside lights. Other recommendations include using motion detector lights and trimming hedges so intruders can’t hide in bushes.  In addition, look out for neighbors, and leave a spare set of keys with a trusted neighbor rather than hide it on your property where it can be discovered by neighbors.

The Port Washington Police District has outlined safety tips on its website. In addition, it notified those who had signed up for , the communication system that keeps local residents and businesses informed of time-sensitive information and events.

Police say never enter your home if you think there’s an intruder inside it. Instead, call 911.

“If you see something or hear something, or things don’t seem right, call us,” Salerno said.