Police Respond to Recent Break-Ins With Advice to Rochester-Area Homeowners

Reports of multiple break-ins in Rochester and Rochester Hills and across Oakland County this month have police issuing warnings and tips to area homeowners.

Over the weekend, three home invasions were reported in Rochester. (Read Rochester Police Chief Warns Public About Recent Break-Ins

And in the past three weeks there have been multiple break-ins reported in Rochester Hills.

• Jewelry Taken From 2 Rochester Hills Houses in Saturday Night Break-Ins
• Update: Teens Arrested in Rochester Hills Home Invasion Case

On Tuesday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard issued a news release advising residents to take "simple steps to make your home more difficult to enter and less enticing to would-be burglars."

Bouchard urged residents to make your home look occupied and difficult to break into by following these tips:

• Use motion sensitive lights on the exterior of your home.
• Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors.
• Keep your garage door, exterior doors and windows locked even when you are home.
• If you do leave your windows open, use a locking device to prevent it from being opened all the way.
• Install special track locks on sliding glass doors and windows to prevent them from being forced or pried open.
• Be sure valuables in your home are not visible from the street.
• Use blinds and drapes on windows to conceal these items. 
• Trim trees and shrubs near doors and window to limit hiding places close to your home. 
• If going on vacation, have a trusted neighbor pick up your newspapers and mail so these items don’t accumulate and alert burglars of your absence.
• Arrange for them to keep an eye on your home, even taking care of mowing the lawn. 
• If you see a vehicle or someone who is loitering around the homes in your area, call your local police. 
• Leave lights on when you go out.
• If you are away for an extended period of time connect your lights to automatic timers.