MONTGOMERY COUNTY -- The Dayton-area sees almost four burglaries a day. According to law enforcement., any neighborhood can be the next target. That's why ABC 22/FOX 45 Reporter Liza Danver is Fighting Back to show you how to protect your home and your valuables from the crooks.
"The big item they're taking is jewelry, play station games, video games and computers. Anything they can sell. The jewelry, they take right to a jewelry shop and sell it. Gold is up right now. They melt it down right away so we never retrieve that jewelry, unfortunately," said Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer.
To help Fight Back and keep your family safe, we talk to a former professional burglar about the steps you need to take right now to protect your home.
Bob Portenier knows all too well about breaking in. He previously served time for armed robbery.
"People keep their stuff in the same place from house to house and the burglars know where to find those items. What I recommend is a home safe," he said.
You can find a suitable safe at any large hardware store. But Portenier says, don't stash it in the back of a closet. Secure it to the floor, so it can't be picked up. Keep expensive jewelry, important papers and other smaller valuables inside.
"You put a box over it to camoflage it, then you put a couple boxes over that with like garage sale items, and they'll typically pass it by and not mess with it," Portenier said.
Portenier adds, home security systems are always good. The alarm almost always scares away burglars. But don't worry, you don't have to spend a fortune, because the best security can also be your best friend.
"If they come on your front porch and hear your dog barking, they're going next door," Sheriff Plummer said. "I bought me a big 'ole Boxer. I've got a four-legged security system."
On the outside of your home, look into motion activated lights. That's what Dana Fox of Dayton did after learning of a series of burglaries in his neighborhood.
"I put in a lot of lighting, dusk to dawn lighting around my barn and my house. My neighbors have done the same thing. You light up the neighborhood, that really helps," he said.
If you want to really slam the door in a burglar's face, reinforce it. Put a Charlie Bar on all sliding glass doors and install deadbolts on doors leading to the outside including the door to your garage. Portenier also has this recommendation: "When they bore out a hole for your door knob, there is very little wood to protect it. So you can get a brass wrap around. It's held in place with eight screws. That really beefs this area up as you can see."
Just a few simple things you can do to Fight Back against the bad guys.
"I feel much more safe, and so does my wife," Fox said.
Thursday night on FOX 45 News at 10 and ABC 22 News at 11, we follow former burglar Bob Portenier as he breaks into a home and steals everything valuable inside. You won't believe how fast he's able to ransack the place.
"The big item they're taking is jewelry, play station games, video games and computers. Anything they can sell. The jewelry, they take right to a jewelry shop and sell it. Gold is up right now. They melt it down right away so we never retrieve that jewelry, unfortunately," said Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer.
To help Fight Back and keep your family safe, we talk to a former professional burglar about the steps you need to take right now to protect your home.
Bob Portenier knows all too well about breaking in. He previously served time for armed robbery.
"People keep their stuff in the same place from house to house and the burglars know where to find those items. What I recommend is a home safe," he said.
You can find a suitable safe at any large hardware store. But Portenier says, don't stash it in the back of a closet. Secure it to the floor, so it can't be picked up. Keep expensive jewelry, important papers and other smaller valuables inside.
"You put a box over it to camoflage it, then you put a couple boxes over that with like garage sale items, and they'll typically pass it by and not mess with it," Portenier said.
Portenier adds, home security systems are always good. The alarm almost always scares away burglars. But don't worry, you don't have to spend a fortune, because the best security can also be your best friend.
"If they come on your front porch and hear your dog barking, they're going next door," Sheriff Plummer said. "I bought me a big 'ole Boxer. I've got a four-legged security system."
On the outside of your home, look into motion activated lights. That's what Dana Fox of Dayton did after learning of a series of burglaries in his neighborhood.
"I put in a lot of lighting, dusk to dawn lighting around my barn and my house. My neighbors have done the same thing. You light up the neighborhood, that really helps," he said.
If you want to really slam the door in a burglar's face, reinforce it. Put a Charlie Bar on all sliding glass doors and install deadbolts on doors leading to the outside including the door to your garage. Portenier also has this recommendation: "When they bore out a hole for your door knob, there is very little wood to protect it. So you can get a brass wrap around. It's held in place with eight screws. That really beefs this area up as you can see."
Just a few simple things you can do to Fight Back against the bad guys.
"I feel much more safe, and so does my wife," Fox said.
Thursday night on FOX 45 News at 10 and ABC 22 News at 11, we follow former burglar Bob Portenier as he breaks into a home and steals everything valuable inside. You won't believe how fast he's able to ransack the place.