Chief: Secure homes in wake of burglary

In the wake of a recent burglary at a home on Howard Street, Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck said the juvenile perpetrator is in custody but he advised residents to secure their homes.

“It was shocking to a lot of folks but these things can happen,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a rash of [burglaries]. It’s an isolated incident - if anyone is worried about this person being at large, they have been taken into custody.”

He advised residents to “make sure your doors and windows are locked.”

He said security cameras with alarm systems are “invaluable to law enforcement.”

“It helps forensically … juries now expect everything to be on video. To purchase a camera with an alarm system is a great investment in case something happens to your property … that evidence can go a long way to open and close a case [quickly],” he said. “I would highly recommend that if it is in your ability to do, I would do it.”

Another trick for keeping intruders out and kids in is to “plant hostile vegetation beneath your windows. … make it inhospitable at locations around your house. If you have kids who like to sneak out through the windows,” cactus and holly are good candidates, he said.