Residential Risk Assessment Program
With the recent increase of residential house breaks in the Blackstone Valley area and beyond, the Sutton Police Department is launching a new program geared towards helping residents protect their homes and valuables within. Sutton residents can contact the Sutton Police Department and schedule an appointment with an officer who will conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of their property. The assessment will address the exterior conditions of a home as well as vehicles on the property in order to reduce the opportunities presented to someone who is possibly looking to break in. At the conclusion of the officer’s assessment, the officer will review the recommended changes for any areas of concern to the resident, and the home will be “risk assessment certified”, once the recommended changes are implemented.
Once a home is “certified”, an electronic file will be created with the home owner’s contact information, as well as up to three serial numbers for personal items (i.e. computers, iPods, etc.) that the home owner wants to have included within the electronic record. This electronic file will greatly assist the police in their recovery efforts should someone’s home be victimized.
The current trend that police departments are seeing throughout the area regarding house breaks is the loss of jewelry. The Sutton Police will be able to offer valuable protection devices to those residents interested in safeguarding their valuables.
While the police department is not claiming to be able to “burglar proof” homes that are evaluated, there are concrete, target-hardening techniques that an officer will be able to provide to residents. In addition to a property assessment, the officer will then take the time to discuss the mechanics of breaking and entering crimes, how those incidents are investigated, the items typically stolen, and then where that property may end up. This all-encompassing program is an effort to develop relationships with Sutton residents to educate them about protecting their personal property, discuss the process of recovering any stolen property, and exchange information with community members in the hopes of a more thorough investigation that may lead to a successful prosecution in the case.
If residents are interested in having a Residential Risk Assessment conducted on their home, they may contact Sgt. Lisa Sullivan at (508) 865-4449 to schedule their appointment.