River Hill Warns Of Break-ins

From a village association alert to residents; good advice for all. We had a couple kids try something similar in our neighborhood in Stevens Forest:

There have been a number of break-ins in the Village of River Hill in recent weeks. The perpetrators are gaining access through the rear of homes and stealing valuables, including TVs, laptops, and jewelry. In some instances there was forced entry. In one incident a ladder was used to gain access to an unsecured door. The police have not identified any suspects and patrols have been increased.

Please, as always, be extra vigilant. The Howard County Police Department advises residents to do the following:


* Lock all house and car doors and windows, including the door from the garage to the house;
* Keep your garage doors closed and locked;
* Be aware of suspicious persons, vehicles, and behaviors;
* Report all suspicious activity immediately

Call 911 or
Non-Emergency Number 410-313-2200

* Let a neighbor know if you be out of town, so that someone can keep on eye on your property.


Other steps that you can take:


* Join the River Hill Community Association’s listserv to receive timely crime alerts and other important notifications. Sign up at the Association’s website: www.riverhill.columbiavillages.org and click on “Receive Village News by Email.”



* Make sure that your street is participating in the Neighborhood Watch Program. The Association’s goal is to have at least one Block Captain per street. This program helps deter crime by increasing citizen’s awareness, improving communications with the Association and Police Department, and encouraging residents to take measures to improve security. To find out if your street already has a Block Captain, to volunteer to be a Block Captain, or just to find out more, contact the Village Manager at rhmanager@columbiavillages.org.