In light of a recent rise in residential burglaries in our city and neighboring communities, the Milton Police Department would like to share what we know, what our officers are doing, and what homeowners can do to help prevent themselves from becoming victims.

There is no indication that those committing these burglaries are or could be violent; in fact, they appear to work intently not to interact with residents or police. While situations may be different, these facts have emerged:

• Targeted homes are being entered through the rear of the residence, typically with force through a glass door.
• These homes all back up to wooded areas or areas that have an easily accessible drop-off point (such as golf course, parallel street, or parking lot).
• Burglars have targeted homes in gated communities that border outer edges of those neighborhoods.
• The incidents have occurred in the evening hours, when the sky is darker, and the homes appear unoccupied.

Milton Police officers have proactively and strategically increased their patrols in areas that have been targeted. Anyone who spots a suspicious person or vehicle can call 911 immediately. If you have information of a non-emergency nature that you think might be helpful to investigators, call 678-242-2570 then press option #1.

There’s no magic way to prevent all crimes, including in your own home. Still, property owners can take a few actions to lessen their likelihood of becoming a burglary victim, such as:

• Use your alarm and make sure your alarm company dispatches police officers immediately to check your residence if the alarm goes off.
• If you have a monitored video surveillance system, please use it and its activated motion detection features.
• Illuminate your home with both inside and outside lighting. (If you keep some lights on inside your home, it can give the impression someone is home.)
• Work with your neighbors to keep an eye out on each other’s properties, especially when you’re away.
• Make a “vacation patrol request” through the Milton Police Department if you plan to travel out of town. You can do so at this link: https://www.miltonga.gov/government/police/vacation-patrol-request

 Thank you for your vigilance and cooperation in helping keep our community safe!