Thursday July 24

Every eight seconds in the United States there is a home break-in and Sanford Lions were urged Thursday, July 17, to take every precaution possible to see that their homes aren’t part of these statistics. Guest speaker for the weekly club meeting was Officer Marshall Cameron of Sanford’s Community Policing Unit.

The 16-year veteran Sanford policeman was introduced by program chairman Don Morton. Officer Cameron shared many crime prevention tips for both home and car. First and foremost, lock homes securely including doors and windows and never leave items of value in view even in locked cars. Most home entries happen during the day.

Thieves need three primary elements to commit their crimes, the officer said. These include the ability, the desire, and opportunity. Property owners can’t do anything to thwart the first two, but we all can limit the opportunity factor. Keep shrubbery trimmed neatly near windows and doors, install outdoor lighting, use deadbolt locks on doors, and never hide a spare key outside. Leave a key with a relative or trusted neighbor for emergency use.

Also mark valuables with some form of identification. If away from home, have someone look after home and collect mail and newspapers, If possible, have a vehicle in the driveway that can be moved periodically. Officer Cameron said security is like an onion—something with many layers.

President John Walden presided while Roy Jernigan delivered the invocation. Billy Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance. Club song leader John Byrd sang a solo entitled “When It’s Lamp Lighting Time in the Valley.”