48°
“In the entire county there has been a rise in commercial burglaries,” Colaneri said. “Mainly because most homes have alarms and cameras. The crime is shifting.”
There were two break-ins within the last month on the same night in Hasbrouck Heights, where a criminal entered a pizzeria and a hair salon, police said. There was damage but nothing was stolen. Colaneri said the investigation is ongoing and police have suspects.
At the Oct. 7 Chamber of Commerce meeting, Colaneri offered several tips to businesses.
First, he suggested businesses get an alarm, one that has a cell back up to avoid criminals from cutting the land line and that also has no delay on entry. A delay gives criminals the opportunities to rip the alarm off the wall before a signal is sent to police, he said. Instead, he suggests getting one with a key fob that can be deactivated before entering.
“Cameras run the line of invasion of privacy but with crime stuff it helps,” Colaneri said.
Leaving interior lights on in the stores and keeping the front windows clear allow for police on patrol to easily see if anyone is inside at night, he advised.
Cash registers should be left open with no cash stored inside to prevent damage to the machine.
“Mainly they are looking for money because there is a heroin problem going on,” Colaneri said. “It’s not really a problem in Hasbrouck Heights, it mainly hits very rich or very poor areas.”
Locking doors with dead bolts and even a steel door is optimal.
“We want to make it as hard as possible for them so they pass by and go somewhere else,” Colaneri said.
The Heights Flower Shoppe owner Ray Vorisek had a close call with a break-in.
“They bent the door, they were determined to get in,” Vorisek said.
If owners are still unsure on what to do, Colaneri said "the police can come and do a security check for businesses."
Click here to follow Daily Voice Ridgefield Park-Hasbrouck Heights and receive free news updates.
