Home Safety Information

If you are concerned about residential burglaries in your neighborhood, you do not have to feel powerless to change the situation.  Most residential burglars look for crimes of opportunity.  They pick what appears to be an easy mark.  There are many steps that you can take to keep your home and your neighborhood safe.  The most important step is for you and your neighbors to work together.  Additionally, report any suspicious people, vehicles, sounds, or activity immediately to the Voorhees Police Department.  We implore you not to wait or contemplate calling, the sooner we receive the call, the more effective our response will be.

What can you do?

• Never allow people you do not know into your home, such as a door-to-door sales person, a person asking to use the phone or looking for a supposed neighbor.
• Do not have a routine when turning on and off lights when leaving the house or going on vacation. Consider using timers that allow various times to be set or random activations.  Always keep your doors and windows locked, day and night.
• Never leave your garage door open.
• Do not have your valuables visible through windows.
• Keep ladders locked in the garage. Burglars can use them for access to otherwise inaccessible second story windows.
• Do not forget when going on vacation to hold or to have someone pick up your mail/newspapers.
• Do not hide a key outside for visiting friends and relatives.
• Do not advertise new gifts or purchases. Break up the cartons before leaving them at the curb.
• Be aware of who can see what you post on social media and what you share with your followers. Be cautious in publicizing vacation plans.
• Call the police immediately when you see suspicious persons or activities.
• Get to know the police officers in your area.
• If you live in an apartment complex let management know of any problems in the community.
• Follow the Voorhees Police Department on Nextdoor, Facebook, Twitter, and Nixle.

Make a list of the serial numbers of your property and take photographs. You can also engrave your Driver’s license number with an etching tool. Keep this list in a safe location away from valuables. Here are some links to asset inventory programs:

If you see a burglary in progress, get a good description of the suspect(s), their vehicle and tag number, if you can do so safely. Write it down and call the police immediately!

If you are Burglarized:

Do not enter your house if you return home and find signs that a burglary is taking place or has taken place. Go to a safe place immediately, such as a neighbor’s home and call the police.

If you enter into your home and find evidence of a burglary, call the police immediately. Do not touch anything or move anything around.  Give the police a chance to gather evidence that may have been left.

Try to determine what has been taken and prepare a list of stolen items (with serial numbers if possible) to assist police in their investigation.

If you would like a police officer to conduct a Security Survey and make suggestions on ways to improve the physical security of your residence please contact Eric Camm at 856-882-1104 or by email at ecamm@vtpd.com.

Owners, management and employees should incorporate these basic steps into your daily business practices.