Due to numerous house breaks in the Wareham and Onset area, as well as in surrounding communities during the daytime, Wareham Police are urging area residents to be especially alert to suspicious activity in and around their neighborhoods.

Police are urging citizens to report anything out of the ordinary they might observe in their neighborhood and immediately call 911.

Activity that should be considered suspicious and reported to police would be a strange vehicle in someone’s yard or a vehicle driving slowly up and down a street, one or more persons in a yard where the homeowners are away on vacation or at work, an open door or window – especially in winter - or anything that looks out of order.

If you see a suspicious vehicle, police are asking citizens to try and record a license plate number and description of the vehicles, as well as to note a description of its occupants and the direction in which the vehicle is traveling.

Police recommend leaving lights such as a porch light, kitchen light, or bathroom light during the night to help deter thieves. Outside lights with motion detectors are also effective. Installing deadbolts, window locks, and alarm systems make it more difficult for a thief to enter your home. Police noted that a big scary dog also works very well!

Homeowners should also mark their valuables with their license number or their name. Copy serial numbers from your electronics and keep your receipts. Take digital pictures of your valuables, especially your jewelry. Put the photos on a disc and give it to your insurance agent.

Do not keep expensive jewelry in your jewelry box. The first place thieves target is the jewelry box that sits on top of your dresser. They will then rifle through all of the drawers in your bedroom, your home office, then the rest of your house. Guns, jewelry, and cash should be put in a locked safe that is anchored to an immovable object. It doesn’t do any good to put your valuables in a safe that can be picked up and carried away.

Overall, police said to not be afraid to call them.