Police give tips to ward off home invasions
State police at Uniontown are issuing guidelines for residents on how to prevent home robberies and how to deal with such an incident if it occurs. Brian Burden, community relation’s officer for the state police, said there are a few simple rules that people can follow to make sure that they don’t become a victim of a home invasion.
They are:
??Keep all doors locked whenever possible and hide a spare key outside in case of a lock out.
??Always keep the window shades closed (at night) especially in the kitchen. Burden said most kitchen windows do not have window treatments and exposed windows can tell a criminal a lot about how vulnerable people who live in the house are.
“What they can’t see brings reluctance on their part,” he said. “If they think you are at home they will more than likely move on.”
? Never let it look like there is no one home or someone is home alone. Burden suggests that people use the “camouflage approach”.
“Leave your lights, radio and/or television on,” said Burden. “A television in a dark room flickers and gives the appearance of more than one person in a room when someone is looking in from outside.”
? Be alert every time you drive home (especially women). Burden said criminals have been known to follow a potential victim home after stalking them. He said they might only want to see where you live in order to return later.
Burden said should the unthinkable happen and someone does get into you home residents should cooperate with the intruder.
“This will have a calming effect and lessen the chance of being injured,” said Burden. “It’s better to give up your possessions than your life.”
Another good rule to follow is to never look the intruder directly in the eyes. Burden said by doing so they might feel you will be able to identify them and that might place your life in danger.
Burden said for people who own guns police suggest that they hid one in a master bathroom because intruders often put a family member in the bathroom.
“The bathroom is the least threatening room and the best place to store a weapon,” said Burden.
And finally, Burden suggests if there is a home invasion in progress, to have a telephone code with family members and close friends.
“If the telephone rings the intruder will likely tell you not to answer it,” said Burden. “Tell them you are expecting a very important call, and the caller knows you are home and if you don’t answer, they will suspect something is wrong, and call your neighbor.”
Burden said should the intruder allow you to answer the call, and it is someone who knows about the code get it across in a natural tone and hope the caller calls 911 or the police.
Burden said one reason that criminals may be committing more home invasions is because it’s easier than holding up a convenience store.
“Most criminals realize that it’s easier and safer to commit a home invasion crime because most people are not thinking about someone forcing their way into their home which gives the criminal the advantage,” concluded Burden.
Meanwhile, Richard Darrell Decost, 33, of 311 Miller Rd., Kingwood, W.Va., remains in a West Virginia jail cell awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania, where will face nine counts of robbery and related crimes for a Feb. 3 home robbery in Springhill Township that left a woman injured.
Trooper George Mrosko, state police at Uniontown, said Decost faces four different counts of robbery and one count each of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, burglary, simple assault and theft.
Mrosko said Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon is preparing the paperwork to have Decost brought back to Pennsylvania.
However, Mrosko said it might be some time before Decost’s brought back to Pennsylvania because he’s apparently facing other charges in West Virginia.
According to police Decost allegedly forced his way into Fonda Conaway’s home along Route 857 and during an altercation with Conaway he cut her arm with a knife and bruised her face and cut her lip.
Police said Decost allegedly took Conaway’s purse, which was on her kitchen table, and a leather coat belonging to Conaway before escaping in a light blue minivan.
Mrosko said after leaving Conway’s Springhill Township home, Decost went back to West Virginia and then traveled to Virginia where police captured him.
Mrosko said all of the charges filed against Decost, except for two, are felony counts.