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"The holiday season provides the opportunity for burglars due to many residents being out of the house and busy shopping and/or at gatherings," Kugler noted. "When burglars see no lights on in the home and no cars or activity within the residence, they know the home is unoccupied."
Once inside, they move quickly -- grabbing whatever's in sight and quickly rummaging through drawers and jewelry boxes, the chief said.
"We encourage all residents to remain vigilant to secure and protect your homes at all times and have a watchful eye on not only your own homes and properties but your neighbors as well," Kugler said. "Any suspicious persons, vehicles and/or activity in or around your homes and streets should be reported to police immediately."
He also urged:
• Make sure all doors and windows are secure, especially in back; use window stops;
• Clear windows and doors of any bushes, trees or shrubs so that you, your neighbors — and, if necessary, police — can see them;
• Use deadbolts -- but with screws are at least a couple of inches long; otherwise, Snooki could kick your door in;
• Motion detector lighting is huge; just don‘t have it close enough to the ground that someone could unscrew the bulb;
• Don't leave ladders or other types of boosters or tools outside;
• Keep lights on. Put them, televisions and radios on timers.
The Saddle Brook break-in breakdown:
2nd Street (between Outwater Lane and President Street): Someone forced open the front door. Inventory being taken.
8th Street: Someone climbed through a rear bedroom window. Bedroom dresser drawers were opened. Reported stolen were an iPad, Apple Mac Book, Samsung Note 4 and a Lenova laptop.
Harrison Avenue: Again, entry was made through a rear bedroom window and dressers ransacked. Reported taken were six pair of Jordan 6 basketball sneakers, an iPad, a Samsung tablet, a Sony Playstation 4 game console, cash and jewelry.
Saddle River Road (near Mayhill Street): A rear glass door was broken and forced open. Cash and jewelry were taken from bedroom dressers.
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