Beat the burglars: Tips for preventing break-ins

Originally published in The Patriot-News on Aug. 16, 2012.

Burglaries have been a hot topic this summer among law enforcement agencies and midstate residents. News of brazen thefts has increased fears.

There are ways to deter burglars from breaking into your home. Here’s what authorities on security have to say:

• Keep outdoor lights on. “The more lit your house, the more of a deterrent it is to break in,” said Jason Carst of Knight Security Systems Inc. in Lower Paxton Twp. Motion-sensor lights are a bonus, said Officer Chad Miller of Lower Paxton Twp. Police Department. “They keep the electric bill down, too,” he said.
• Don’t advertise your absence. If your family is going to be away, the safest thing is not to share the good news until you’re back. That goes for your teens and children, too.
• Have a house sitter. Consider getting a house sitter anytime you’re going to an event that has been publicized, including funerals and weddings.
• Confront situations. Lt. Robert Fegan of Harrisburg City Police Department recalled one case where a burglar broke into a home through a skylight. “The whole thing was watched by a neighbor who didn’t want to get involved,” he said. “People should be more assertive and confront situations that don’t make sense or call the police.” Read more of this post

How to drive on a roundabout

Photo by Dan Gleiter, The Patriot-News.

Originally published in The Patriot-News on June 28, 2011.

Traffic lights never looked so seductive as when the Linglestown roundabout – which sends traffic in a circle to connected roads — was put in place. The new road system has sparked a lot of discussion, with people wondering what this newfangled road thing is and how in the world does one navigate in it?

The news about the roundabout drove PennLiver user qfest to write: “Watched a video a few weeks ago on how to manage the roundabouts. Wish PennDOT, Patriot News, TV stations would air something as well. The public just needs to be educated.”

So are roundabouts driving you mad? Feel you’re just running around in circles? Here’s a how-to – roundabout style.

APPROACHING A ROUNDABOUT

1. Read the signs: More than just the yield one, roundabout signs can give important clues on how to use the roundabout and will display the different exits and which turn they are on. The one in Linglestown is a single-lane roundabout, but there are also two-lane ones, which come with handy signs telling exactly which lane is best for each person.

2. Yield: The pedestrians wanting to cross and the cars in the roundabout have the right of way. So until there is an opening, the car outside the roundabout has to wait. Patience is a virtue.

3. Enter the roundabout: See that opening? Signal in and take it by turning right.

For instructions on how to drive in or exit from roundabouts read the full story on PennLive.com