"You can help prevent a burglary," Nassau County Police CAPS Detective Ron Burk told a large group of residents last week at a public safety seminar at Village of Great Neck Village Hall. Organized by Village Trustee and Public Safety Committee Chair Mark Birnbaum and Nassau County Police's 6th Precinct Commanding Officer Steven Williams, the evening featured longtime detectives with the county's Crimes Against Property Squad (CAPS) detectives Ron Burk and Wayne Mathison.

Mr. Birnbaum opened the seminar, stating that the low crime rate in the area most likely kept the audience numbers from over-flowing the room. "We're here tonight to keep those crime rates down," he said.

Inspector Williams noted that the event was most timely, as "this time of year it gets dark earlier."

The bulk of the information came from the two detectives, with Det. Burk saying that though Great Neck's crime rate has been low recently, there have been periods of time when crime was up, especially burglaries, what he termed "a crime of opportunity." He stressed that burglars look for opportunities; they look for a house that has the appearance of being unoccupied. "They don't want to confront anyone," he said, they just want to grab stuff and run." He said that 99.9 percent of the time the burglars will leave if they think someone is at home. (And if you are home, if you yell out, they will probably leave immediately, he advised.)

Burglars look for a great opportunity by finding houses that have no lights on and are dark at sunset; no car in the driveway; doors and windows blocked by shrubbery; mail sticking out of the mailbox; papers piled up on the front lawn or stoop; curtains closed during daytime hours; outside alarm siren boxes.

And Det. Burk said that the "latest" is burglars coming through the roof, through the gables and into the attic (generally not alarmed, but should be), usually right into the master bedroom, where there is usually no alarm or motion detector, but where the valuables (cash and jewelry) are most likely kept. He also said that kicking in the front door is often a means of entry; while the alarm delay should only be 35 seconds, most are longer and allow the burglar a chance to run in and grab goods before the system is set off and police arrive.

Det. Burk said that you can definitely help prevent your home from being a target by "target hardening" your home: walk around your home; make a list of easy points of entry for an intruder; take care of the problems.

And Det. Burk suggested that "when you leave your home, look around; be sure no one is around."

The detectives then offered a full burglary checklist:

Prune overgrown shrubbery that hides windows and doors.

Make alarm stickers visible on doors and windows; they should be easily seen from the street and sidewalk.

Keep a car in the driveway, if possible.

Place a dog bowl or dog chain on your property to give the appearance of canine security.

Do not have packages left in the doorway all day; arrange for a delivery time when you or a neighbor can pick them up.

Do not keep garbage cans at the curb all day; if you cannot stay home, use plastic bags instead of garbage cans.

Eliminate the outside mailbox; insert a mail slot in the front door or garage.

Install outside motion detection lights at the corner of your home and high enough so that the intruder is unable to unscrew the bulbs.

Have outside doors of solid core of metal clad; steel doors and frames are the most secure while hollow doors with wood frames are easily kicked in.

Do not have front doors with side glass panels since they are easy to break and allow the intruder to reach inside and unlock the door.

Use dead bolts with a one-inch throw since the mechanism is difficult to pry or jimmy open.

Ensure that sliding glass doors and windows have metal pins or a metal bar installed to prevent being pried open.

Set inside lights on timers to turn them on at dusk.

Do not place valuables in bureau drawers in the master bedroom; this is the first area where a burglar looks. Lock valuables in the attic or basement.

Mark valuables with your driver's license number to make them easy to trace if found on a burglar.

Even if you have an alarm system, be alert when leaving or entering your home. If you notice someone or something suspicious, report it to the police immediately.

Det. Burk went on to discuss different types of burglars. He said that some work days, others at night, and some use deception to keep you busy while someone else enters an unlocked door. The detective said that gypsies are around the area in the summer months, after returning from Florida and such warm East Coast areas where they "work" in the winter. Det. Burk said that groups of gypsies are known for their "deception" techniques.

Det. Mathison also strongly advised an attic alarm. And he added that burglars might cut phone lines, so one part of updating a home alarm system should be to add a radio back-up too. "It's worth it down the road," he said.

And Det. Mathison then advised residents to "be the eyes and ears," and to report absolutely anything suspicious. "We'd rather come out for nothing ... rather than not be told," he said.

Det. Mathison also told the audience "don't believe what you see on television ... television shows show the process as easy ... we're the real police."

When the detectives were questioned about home invasions, which are not prevalent in the area, they said that those mostly occur via unlocked windows. Windows, they said, should be locked, or, if open, opened only a little with a safety device in place to prevent further opening.

As for apartment dwellers, the detectives advised MEDECO pick-proof locks, along with metal doors and a metal door frame. As well, they said that windows and screens can also be alarmed.

Home safes were also addressed, with both men advising heavy safes that are either cemented in or double-bolted with heavy bolts.

Anyone going on vacation was also advised to call the 6th Precinct to give them a heads-up. Police would then be sure to add that home to their list and check a few times during each shift.

All calls to police for help or for "situations," even if not an actual emergency should be called in to 911, the detectives stated. The calls are then sent to a dispatch center and are prioritized. And if you want the police to check out a situation, but do not want them to come to your house, this can be done as the phone call will recognize your address.

Det. Burk and Det. Mathison told the audience that the Great Neck area has the lowest crime rate in Nassau County. And, Mr. Birnbaum added that the village always has "the full cooperation of the police."

For a copy of the Make Your Home Secure pamphlet handed out by the police, Village of Great Neck residents may go to Village Hall at 61 Baker Hill Road. All other are residents should call the Nassau County CAPS officers at 573-5275.