On Sunday December 13th at approximately 6:00 p.m., an alleged armed robbery was reported to have occurred on the street in Port Washington North involving a person making food deliveries. The Port Washington Police Department has opened an ongoing investigation into the incident. The Village has been working with the police to increase the number and frequency of patrols and raise general awareness within the Village as there has been an increase in burglaries in the Port Washington community the past several months. We ask that you and your neighbors be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the PWPD.

We also encourage you to look at the home protection tips below and spend some time evaluating the security of your home.

• A dark house is an unoccupied house. A house with no light on at dinnertime tells burglars you are not at home.

• Do not leave all your valuables in your bedroom. Burglars typically check the bedrooms first.

• Make sure all doors and windows are locked when you leave, even if you have an alarm system. Lock the doors and windows even if you plan to leave only for a few minutes. Most burglars won’t attempt to break a secured window for fear of attracting attention.

• Secure any sliding doors. Make sure the lock is in working order. A steel rod in the door channel is helpful. For additional security, install two or three screws in the overhead track to reduce the chance of the door being lifted out of the track.

• Keep your garage doors closed and locked. This helps prevent access to the house and protects property stored in the garage.

• Make your home appear occupied by putting lights and televisions on timers when no one is home.

• Make sure the exterior of your house is well-lit. Exterior lights are important especially near the doors or in the rear of the house, where most burglars do their work.

• Outdoor lights should be on an automatic timer or have motion detectors.

• Keep your shrubbery trimmed. Thick tall shrubbery provides cover for a burglar to work undetected.

• If you have an alarm system, put up signs that say that you do. Do not use signs that hint at what type of equipment your system uses. Have your alarm serviced by a reputable technician. Use your alarm.

• Do not let people know you are not home by posting about it on the Internet or on voicemail.

Residents and Police are partners in solving crime; we welcome the information provided by the communities we serve. If you See something – Say Something. If you Hear something – Say Something.  Don’t wait, call 911. If you are unsure about whether to call, we encourage you to call 911.

Bob Weitzner, Mayor Village of Port Washington North

Jam es Salerno, Chief of Police, Port Washington Police District