Home Security Neighborhood Watch

ALTOONA - Operation Our Town hosted a neighborhood watch meeting looking at home security.

We've had several home break-ins just in the last couple of months. There have been at least ten already this year and they've been scattered throughout our region. There have been break-ins in Clearfield, Elk, Blair, Centre and Somerset Counties and at least four in Huntingdon County alone.

Blair County Chief Deputy Holly Garner talked to the neighborhood watch crowd about how to improve their personal and home security. It was an important topic for Patty Meintel. She knows someone whose home was broken in to in the area. She wanted to know if the increased number of home break-ins was connected to drug crimes.

Garner says the two probably are connected. And gave some tips on how to be as safe as possible. She told the crowd about stronger locks, she likes double cylinder deadbolts. And you can buy a timer system to make your lights turn on at a specific time. She recommends setting it at random times so no one can find the pattern.

And to keep yourself safe while you're going to and from your house, you can carry pepper spray, and a panic alarm. The next neighborhood watch meeting is April 21st.

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Home Security Neighborhood Watch