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Monroe police outline changing burglary tactics and simple steps residents can take to protect homes and cars
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Summary
Detective Bob Bennett of the Monroe Police Department told residents at a theft-preparedness seminar that burglaries in the region are increasingly targeted and organized; he urged alarms, deadbolts, exterior lighting and a nightly '9PM routine' to reduce risk.
Detective Bob Bennett of the Monroe Police Department told a packed seminar that burglaries in and around Monroe Township have shifted from opportunistic local offenders to targeted, often out-of-town crews using staged approaches and technical tricks.
Bennett, who said he has worked in the department for 23 years and in the detective bureau for about a decade, defined burglary as unlawful entry into a structure and distinguished it from motor-vehicle theft, which is a separate category. He cited national statistics showing a continuing long-term decline in burglaries since 1990 but stressed that the problem persists locally and adapts to new tactics.
"They're targeting people specifically by either their profession," Bennett said. "They'll pose as delivery workers or landscapers, ring the doorbell, and when nobody answers the crew will come in and find a way through the house." He described crews who stage at the front, use reflective vests to appear legitimate, and sometimes disable wireless cameras or alarms.
Bennett explained that signal jammers — small devices that can disrupt Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth so wireless cameras fail to transmit — are illegal but have been used to defeat evidence; he advised that hardwired camera systems or battery backups retain footage when wireless systems are jammed.
Practical prevention advice was a major focus. Bennett recommended exterior lighting, installing deadbolts and special sliding‑door locks, keeping valuables out of sight, and establishing a nightly "9PM routine" to check that doors, windows and garage doors are locked. He also urged residents to use the Monroe Police Department's vacation-notice service so officers can periodically check properties while owners are away.
On vehicle thefts, Bennett said many local incidents result from unlocked cars or key fobs left in plain sight. "Most motor vehicle thefts occur because the keys are left in the vehicle," he said, urging people to remove fobs from cars, keep garage doors closed and not to store garage openers where they are visible.
Bennett closed by encouraging neighbors to know one another and report suspicious activity promptly: "If you see something suspicious, report it immediately," he said.
