DAYTON -- It's only a week before Christmas and the Dayton Police Department wants residents to take proper steps to protect their home from burglary.
Dayton Police say the holiday season is a prime time for these type of crimes to happen because of the Christmas gifts.
This weekend, Dayton Police reports show there were 12 burglaries in the city of Dayton, and last week, there were six in one night.
Chelonda Boyd came home to her apartment on Ryburn to see thieves had trashed her house.
"First I was like thank God I wasn't home and thank God my daughter wasn't home," Boyd said.
The burglars forced their way through the back door of Boyd's apartment, breaking the deadbolt lock and taking about $1,800 worth of valuables.
"I had a flat-screen, 40-inch Panasonic HD, I had two laptops," Boyd explained.
Jewelry, passports, Social Security cards and birth certificates were also taken.
"I was just talking to someone the other day about it being unsafe for me being in the building, the only one in the building now," Boyd explained.
Police say burglaries normally happen during the day while people are at work.
"Ask yourself where your house might be vulnerable," said Sgt. Wendy Stiver with the Dayton Police Department. "Take a look at lighting, make sure your doors and windows are locked. There are other options, but a huge thing is to mark your valuables.
Another bit of advice is to write down or take a picture of the serial number of any items you deem valuable. Get to know your neighbors and keep any shrubbery on your property to a minimum.
If you are going out of town this holiday season, you can still protect your home.
"You can always call your local police department and ask them to put your house on a list to be checked while you're on vacation," Sgt. Stiver explained.
As for Boyd, she has had enough and is planning to move from her current apartment to protect her safety. She says if anyone could learn anything from her situation, it's to be a little more cautious this holiday season.
"People work hard for the things that they get and everyone around this time is struggling, but as hard as I've had it, I would never take from another person," Boyd stressed.
For those families wanting the police to check on their home while out of town this holiday, call the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-COPS.
Dayton Police say the holiday season is a prime time for these type of crimes to happen because of the Christmas gifts.
This weekend, Dayton Police reports show there were 12 burglaries in the city of Dayton, and last week, there were six in one night.
Chelonda Boyd came home to her apartment on Ryburn to see thieves had trashed her house.
"First I was like thank God I wasn't home and thank God my daughter wasn't home," Boyd said.
The burglars forced their way through the back door of Boyd's apartment, breaking the deadbolt lock and taking about $1,800 worth of valuables.
"I had a flat-screen, 40-inch Panasonic HD, I had two laptops," Boyd explained.
Jewelry, passports, Social Security cards and birth certificates were also taken.
"I was just talking to someone the other day about it being unsafe for me being in the building, the only one in the building now," Boyd explained.
Police say burglaries normally happen during the day while people are at work.
"Ask yourself where your house might be vulnerable," said Sgt. Wendy Stiver with the Dayton Police Department. "Take a look at lighting, make sure your doors and windows are locked. There are other options, but a huge thing is to mark your valuables.
Another bit of advice is to write down or take a picture of the serial number of any items you deem valuable. Get to know your neighbors and keep any shrubbery on your property to a minimum.
If you are going out of town this holiday season, you can still protect your home.
"You can always call your local police department and ask them to put your house on a list to be checked while you're on vacation," Sgt. Stiver explained.
As for Boyd, she has had enough and is planning to move from her current apartment to protect her safety. She says if anyone could learn anything from her situation, it's to be a little more cautious this holiday season.
"People work hard for the things that they get and everyone around this time is struggling, but as hard as I've had it, I would never take from another person," Boyd stressed.
For those families wanting the police to check on their home while out of town this holiday, call the Dayton Police Department at 937-333-COPS.