Local
Hero Honored by LMRA President
Local
retiree, Thomas Walls recently was awarded
and honored by LMRA for his efforts to break a
burglary ring in the Alexander City area. Mr.
Walls was spending his day riding around the area,
checking on a friend's home that had been burglarized,
when he spotted a suspicious vehicle at one of
the homes. He contacted law enforcement officials.
When the perpetrators spotted Thomas, they fled
up Highway 63 into the arms of waiting police
officers who arrested the men. The two have been
charged with burglary among other counts.
Several
of the homes burglarized belonged to
LMRA members. We at LMRA are proud of Mr. Wall's
efforts to keep the Lake Martin area crime free.
He truly was above the call of duty.
Below,
LMRA has listed some ways you can help
deter crime at your home. Listed below are emergency
numbers for you to post. LMRA members can call
the LMRA office for a local pick up area for a
"$1000 Reward" sign for their property.
Lakehouse
Security Checklist
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Remove
easily "stealable" items (televisions,
guns) when you are away for any length of time.
-
Make
an effort to hide any "stealable items."
Many residents leave valuables on porches or
in plain view.
-
Create
a good hiding place for small items ( hidden
closet, drawer, attic, or behind ceiling tiles.)
-
Get
an electric engraver and engrave all items with
your drivers license number- this is a good
deterrent and necessary for recovery and prosecution.
Please do this; it is invaluable to law enforcement
officials.
-
Don’t
rely on physically locking up; thieves love
to smash doors and windows.
-
Install
operable alarm devices that call the sheriffs
department.
-
Visit
your lakehouse often; rake the yard, mow the
grass. Make it look lived in or have a friend
check on your house periodically and hire a
lawn service if you are unable to do these things
yourself. Uninhabited houses are an easy target.
-
A
simple timer to turn on and off a small light
or radio is a great deterrent. Get the type
that will go on and off each hour, install two
(one on and one off alternately.) Also motion
detector lights on the outside of your house
will deter break- ins.
-
Use
a cable or chain to block the road out of sight
of the house. Thieves always drive by a house
before committing themselves. Make it a little
harder for them.
-
Communicate:
if you see or hear something suspicious, contact
your neighbor or the sheriffs office.
-
Record
tag numbers of all suspicious traffic; keep
this information for future reference.
-
Report
any suspicious smoke or fire. Fire will take
everything and often does in the lake community.
Often burglars try to cover their tracks by
starting a fire.
-
Join
the Lake Martin Resource Association. We have
paid over $15,000. in rewards; LMRA is working
for you!
-
Install
dead bolt locks with at least a one inch throw.
-
Create
a file of serial numbers and information. (Re:
valuables, especially guns, electronic equipment,
etc.)
