Upper Saddle River Police: Tips to Avoid being the Next Victim of a Residential Burglary

In an effort to combat burglaries in New Jersey, especially home invasions, which have become more common, two new classifications of burglary, with the goal of deterring people from committing such crimes was recently enacted. Home invasion burglary now qualifies as a first-degree crime and residential burglary is categorized as a second-degree crime. The bipartisan bill used to facilitate these changes by increasing penalties for burglaries cleared the Assembly and passed the Senate unanimously had was signed by the Governor back in October.

• The bill creates a new criminal charge of home invasion burglary that would see offenders jailed for between 10 and 20 years. There will be a minimum 85% term of parole ineligibility for burglars who harm, threaten to harm, or are armed during the course of a home invasion.

• A separate residential burglary charge created by the bill carries jail sentences of between five and 10 years for offenders who commit a residential burglary unarmed, with the same period of parole ineligibility unless the suspect can prove by a preponderance of evidence that no one was in the home at the time of the crime.

• The bill also allows juveniles charged in home invasions involving firearms to be tried as adults.

Bill S3006/3204 can be reviewed by using the following link: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3006

The steeper penalties should help to reduce property crimes by serving as a deterrent to would-be home invaders holding them accountable for their crimes.

These new charges will definitely help law enforcement and prosecutors going forward. Even with the passage of this new legislation we all must still remain vigilant in our efforts to reduce our chances of becoming a victim of this type of crime. Below are some helpful hints and strategies to use:

1) Make your home look occupied even if you are not really there!

2) Make sure you lock all doors and windows whether you are home or not.

3) Lock all cars that are parked outside. Burglars will use garage door openers to access your garage to steal motor vehicles and possibly enter your home.

4) Have adequate exterior lighting. Motion-sensitive lights are recommended

5) Always activate your alarm, even if you are just going out for a short time.

6) Security cameras and Ring cameras provide useful information and/or evidence for burglary and other types of crimes.

7) Master bedrooms and bathrooms are often the primary target for a burglar. Consider keeping valuables hidden in other areas of the house.

Lock balcony doors and windows. Over the past few years we have seen burglars entering homes through the second floor.

9) Be mindful of surveillance cameras being used by burglars. These devices are placed outside your property to blend in with a home’s outdoor landscaping to monitor movements to and from the home before attempting the burglary.

10) Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from the home—this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms, and antiques. Your insurance company can aid in making and keeping your inventory.

11) Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. If you see something that “feels wrong” at your neighbor’s house or on your block, do not doubt yourself! Call the police immediately. Numerous crimes are solved by the actions of a “concerned citizen”.