July 13, 2011:  Our police department has seen an uptick in the incidences of attempted home burglaries and larcenies from unlocked cars in recent months.

Thanks to terrific detective work, our department has identified the career criminal who committed a spate of burglaries in the Ridgecroft Road area and is working with multiple area police departments to locate and apprehend him.

In the case of the more-than twenty thefts from cars in recent months, none were the result of forced entry, rather a crime of opportunity when approaching an unlocked car.

Even though many area police departments with far more resources were looking for the same suspect in the car larcenies, including those with plain clothes details and anti-crime units, it was our officers who caught the career criminal responsible for the thefts.  The arrest will undoubtedly resolve numerous larcenies from parked cars in neighboring communities as well.

Our officers continue to respond very quickly to critical calls with very successful outcomes. This speaks to the hard work and, frankly, terrific job our police officers are doing, ensuring a high quality of life for our residents and merchants.

Now that summer is here, keeping your periodically vacant home safe is of paramount importance.

We ask that you take advantage of our "vacant house list" service.  Prior to your vacation departure, contact our police department with your plans and when manpower permits, our officers will make physical checks of your home.

Go to www.bronxvillepd.com and follow the e-alert link to add your family to our alert system.  You will then be able to receive updates from our chief of police about any criminal activity and close to real-time updates on critical incidents affecting the Village, including police activities and weather alerts.

The following are tips from our chief of police to make your home appear occupied and thus less likely to be targeted:

• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed.  Even if it is for a short dog walk around the block, lock the doors.

• Leave lights on when you go out.  If you are away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to go on during the day as well as at night.

• Keep the garage door closed and locked and store lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues, and bicycles out of plain sight.

• Arrange for your mail and newspapers to be stopped and the lawn mowed.  Have a neighbor pick up the Pennysaver papers left on the driveway, which are a giveaway to your absence.

• Change locks immediately if keys are lost or stolen and always change locks when moving into a new home.

• To make the exterior of your home secure, always activate your alarm system and provide adequate exterior lighting.  A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.

• Trim trees and shrubs to avoid creating a hiding place or screen for intruders and make sure door hinges are on the inside.

• If you do return home and find an unexplained open or broken window or door, do not enter your home.  The perpetrator could still be inside.  Go to a neighbor's home to use a phone or use a cell phone away from the house.  Do not touch anything or attempt to clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.

• Never leave keys under door mats, flower pots, mailboxes, etc., or other secret hiding places.  Burglars know where to look for hidden keys.

• And finally, be a good neighbor.  If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call the police immediately.  While you are waiting for their arrival, write down any license plate numbers or descriptions of suspicious persons.

Thankfully, we have very little crime in the Village, but even one incident is one too many.  Please be the eyes and ears of your neighborhood and call our police.  Remember, you can always remain anonymous.

In a related police/enforcement issue, the trustees had a public hearing on July 11 at 6:30 pm to discuss increasing the fines for the illegal use of gas-powered leaf blowers.  Currently, the fine being levied is just $25, which is being absorbed by many gardeners as a cost of doing business, clearly defeating the intent of the law to decrease both noise and emissions pollution.

The new legislation, as proposed, will authorize a first-time fine of $250, a second violation will cost $500, and a third, $1,000 if occurring in the same calendar year.

To be fair and catch no one unawares, we have mailed notices to all landscape companies on file and will be issuing a first-time ticket as a warning.  The second violation would trigger the $250 fine.  Our action is in response to the joint concern of our police department and many Village residents.

Wishing all residents a safe and restful summer.