Henrico Police is aware of a reoccurring trend of home and commercial burglaries involving owners of businesses.
One of the best ways to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim is by joining the Henrico County Business Watch Program. This is a free, county-wide program modeled after the highly successful Neighborhood Watch program. It establishes a formal communications network among businesses in specified areas and allows Henrico Police to notify business members of potential crime and current crime trends more efficiently. Members also receive free workplace safety and crime prevention trainings, as well as bimonthly newsletters detailing crime trends and prevention techniques. Learn more here.
Prevention Tips
Other ways you can prevent crime at your home is by following these safety tips:
- Be vigilant, look for suspicious activity when traveling to and from work. Change your daily routine. Leave at different times and take different routes. Report any suspicious activity including unknown suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhoods by calling 911 or our non-emergency number (804) 501-5000. This includes lawn care workers or maintenance personnel you do not recognize.
- Be aware that sometimes individuals will conduct surveillance of your home a few days prior by pretending to be pizza delivery drivers, package delivery persons, stating they are lost, requesting to use the restroom and/or looking to buy property in the area. Do not allow those individuals into your home. They will often park vehicles nearby or on a street over.
- Walk around your home and look for any weaknesses. These could include unlocked windows or doors, poor lighting, overgrown shrubbery providing hiding spots, and so forth. Conduct a self-guided home security assessment by following this list.
- Most burglaries take place when the homeowners are away. Create the illusion that you are home. Leave on lights or televisions. These can be set on timers or set up remotely through your phone or home security system.
- Do not leave large amounts of cash, jewelry, or anything of great value in your home unsecured. If you do leave these items in your home invest in a home safe that can be mounted to the floor for extra security.
- Invest in a camera system, and make sure it is turned on and functioning properly and captures all areas around your home as well as activity in the street in front of your home.
Many of these tips also apply for your commercial establishment. You can call the Henrico Police Crime Prevention Unit at (804) 501-4838 to schedule a free commercial security assessment, or conduct a self-guided security assessment by following this list.
If you suspect that you are being targeted on any of the above ways, please contact Henrico Police by calling 911 or our non-emergency number (804) 501-5000.
Henrico Business Watch Newsletters
Find more additional safety tips here.