Safety Tips

With the recent residential burglaries that have occurred in Warren Township, and throughout New Jersey the Warren Township Police Department would like to take this opportunity to advise our residents how to lessen the possibility of becoming a victim.

1. Report ANY and ALL suspicious activity you may see in your neighborhood, no matter how minor it may appear.
2. Install quality door locks and dead bolts to all exterior doors of your home.
3. If you do not have one or both, install an alarm system and surveillance cameras on the exterior and interior of your home.  Make sure the alarm is monitored by a central station that will immediately notify the police first of an activation.  Additionally, when you install cameras ensure that the system have a street, driveway, and perimeter views as well as the interior near all entrances of your home.
4. If you already have these systems make sure you activate them, and they are working accordingly.  When having these systems installed or updated, we suggest you have a battery/cellular back up in place as well as remote monitoring capabilities available.
5. Install motion lights on the perimeter of your property and make sure the exterior of your home is always well lit during all nighttime hours.
6. Communicate with your neighbors.  Advise them when you are going on vacation or extended weekend trips so they can monitor your home, mail and any activity that may be out of the ordinary.
7. DO NOT post on any social media sites that you are on vacation and for how long.  We advise that you post any pictures/events from your trip after you return home.
8. Add your home to the Warren Township Police Department “Vacant House List” when you go on vacation or extended weekend trips.  Once on the list, your home will be specifically checked by the patrol division in your absence. Refer to warrenpolice.com for the vacant house list form.
9. If you tend to keep any valuables and or cash in your home, we suggest utilizing a home safe that is secured to the floor or wall.

As always, the Warren Township Police Department takes all investigations seriously and again we encourage you to report any suspicious activity no matter how minor it may seem.

If you would like to have a security survey performed on your home, please contact the Warren Township Police Detective Bureau for assistance.

The Warren Township Police would like to remind our residents that phone and email scams are on the rise and we urge you not to give out ANY personal or financial information to random callers or through emails. The list below describes some of the more recent scam attempts residents have been reporting.

Phishing involves an email, often using the name and logo of a legitimate company, asking you to click a link and provide account details – which are then used to commit fraud.

SMShing is essentially phishing via text, directing you to follow a link or call to provide sensitive account information.

Vishing is phishing via phone, where the caller (or recording) warns you of the urgent need to confirm sensitive account information, or to call a number and provide it.

These scams often look legitimate, however; legitimate companies don’t use unsolicited communications or pressure tactics. These fake e-mails, texts, and calls will ultimately seek sensitive personal and account information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, passwords or password prompts.

Communications may also include links or attachments that install computer/mobile device viruses and/or keystroke loggers and should NOT be clicked on or opened.

Messages use pressure to encourage you to click a link or place a call immediately as a fear tactic claiming your utilities will be turned off or your relative has been arrested and needs financial assistance to be released. If you receive calls like this, hang up immediately.
Always contact the institution named in the email, phone call, or text you receive BEFORE you provide any information. It’s important to make contact by alternate means, other than a direct reply to the sender, to ensure you’re communicating with a credible information source. And remember NO legitimate business, credit card company, government agency, or utility company will ever ask for payment via gift cards.

Investigations have revealed a majority of these scammers operate overseas and aren’t going away. We strive to continue to educate our residents on how to spot them and hopefully avoid you from becoming a victim.

Chief William Keane