Yesterday, my wife and I had an encounter with law enforcement.

Now, before you leap to your feet to organize a legal defense fund for us, I should point out that we are not in trouble.

The trouble, it turns out, was for one of our neighbors who had just been victimized by a break-in. It happened in the middle of the day in bright sunshine, rather than the dark of night. In addition to having some items taken, our neighbor also has the mess caused by the forced entry, and the long-lasting feeling of violation that comes from knowing your home has had unwelcome sticky-fingered guests.

Our encounter with an outstanding Winnebago County Sheriff's Deputy consisted of the standard follow-up after an unpleasant event. "Did you guys see anything? Notice anyone unusual around? Unfamiliar cars and/or people?" Unfortunately, we had not. We promised to call if we remembered anything, and of course, vowed to be much more vigilant that we've been.

In addition to feeling terribly for our neighbor, we got that vague sense of unease that I'm sure is quite common after a neighbor's burglary. We asked ourselves if we were prepared, what else we needed to do to protect ourselves, what we would do if it had been us, etc.

Our good friend, Rich Gambini of Crimestoppers, has always preached "awareness." Meaning, keep your eyes open. Pay attention to your surroundings. Don't make yourself an inviting target. Keep your home well-lit at night. Get some deadbolts for your doors, and locks for your windows. Keep an eye on your neighbor's place and ask them to do the same for you.

Some other ideas from MSN.com:

  • Make it a nightly routine to check the locks. Involve children, too, says Chris McGoey, a security expert and consultant who calls himself “The Crime Doctor.”
  • Don’t open the door — and don’t let kids open the door — to uninvited strangers.
  • Use your automatic garage opener to close the garage door when you get home before exiting your car.
  • Stick around when people are working in your home. Notice what they’re doing. Check after they’ve left to ensure that nothing’s missing and that no one has left a window or door unlocked as a way to break in later.
  • Door mats, flowerpots and fake rocks are the first places burglars look for your spare key. Instead, give it to a trusted neighbor. Train children (especially teens) to keep key locations, alarm codes and other family security information private from their friends.
  • Check in with family as you come and go. When you get home, phone to say that you’re getting out of the car and are almost at the door; require kids to check in when they arrive home or leave.
  • Have a family discussion to plan what you’ll do in case of a break-in or home invasion. Whoever can escape should, McGoey says. Although the first instinct of many men may be to stay and defend their family, it’s better to get reinforcements than to get hurt.

A little more on protecting yourself:

And, as Rich Gambini has said many times, if you suspect criminal activity, call the police or Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers even has their own app to make things easier. Click here or here.

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