As Hurricane Milton approaches Midwest Florida, highways are clogged with evacuees for miles, creating the perfect storm for looters to monopolize the impending weather event.
“If you're thinking of going in and looting, something else is going to happen,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a news conference at the state's emergency operations center.
“Think about being able to commit a crime if you go into someone's house after a storm has passed. You're going to get into really serious trouble. And, frankly, you don't know what's on the other side of that door. I don’t know. Second Amendment status.”
Jeff Furlinger, who has worked in law enforcement for 50 years and taught numerous courses centered around emergency preparedness, explains how homeowners can make their property more attractive to would-be burglars. explained.
Hurricane Milton intensifies and grows in size before making landfall in Florida
1. Make it look like someone is home
Farlinger said power outages are expected, but homeowners can turn on lights and play music inside their homes to make it appear as if people are living there.
“If possible, you have your own generator, or if there is no power outage, your home is [will] “In any situation when you're not home, the first thing you need to do is make it look like you're home,” Farlinger told FOX News Digital.
A highway sign announces the approach of Hurricane Milton and evacuation zones in Port Richey, Florida, Oct. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
2. Advertise alarm systems and cameras around your home, even if you don't actually have one.
Farlinger said visible cameras and stickers that alert would-be criminals to warning systems are good deterrents, and even if these systems aren't actually in place, cheap fraudulent products can make criminals think twice. He said that there is a sex.
“A very wise move to deter crime on your premises is to [to] “Go to Amazon and buy a set of fake cameras,” he said. “Amazon has cameras as low as $30 for a set of four that are solar-powered, battery-powered, or solar-powered. There's a little red flashing light that blinks to indicate that it's recording. For just $10, you can buy a sticker for your window that says you have an alarm system.
Hurricane Milton Florida evacuation: What to prepare for the storm
A board with graffiti reading “Milton, go home drunk'' stands in front of debris from Hurricane Helen piled up outside a home in Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island, Florida, ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Milton. You can see the covered shopping street. , October 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
3. Create an action plan with your neighbors
If you are evacuating and your neighbors are not, keep in touch with your neighbors to keep an eye on your property and to immediately highlight if anything unusual happens. Please consider.
“Get your neighbors together and talk. What do we do? What are your plans? If you have any.” [are] Now it's an important conversation I have every day with strangers in my neighborhood,” Furlinger said.
As Hurricane Milton threatens Florida, food and drink essentials to weather the storm
Debris from a home flooded by Hurricane Helen lies on the side of the road as Hurricane Milton approaches, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Port Richey, Florida. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
“Criminals hate audiences,” Furlinger continued. “Think about coyotes. Coyotes see deer herds. The last thing they want to do is be seen by deer herds. If you think about it, criminals [are] Nothing but a two-legged coyote. They don't want witnesses. ”
Farlinger said neighbors don't have to confront strangers in their neighborhoods directly. Instead, they must make noise to alert neighbors of their presence.
“Just letting strangers in your neighborhood know that you saw them is enough,” he said.
“If you see a strange car in your neighborhood, press the alarm button,” he says. “The neighbors will hear it. They'll all come out and see what's going on.”
Farlinger also suggested getting a compressed air horn to scare away burglars and get the attention of other neighbors.
“It would give a warning and maybe scare the criminals or make them change their plans,” he says. “It will alert the neighbors that something is going on.”
You should share your contact information with your neighbors so they can let you know if they see something strange happening in your home.
4. If you own a firearm, take a training class and know how to use it.
Florida is a “Stand Your Ground” state. If you are at home during Hurricane Milton and an intruder enters your property, you have the right to use a firearm. But Furlinger said it's important to be ready to use it.
“Most people have incorrect opinions about how to respond to armed threats, and many of them are based on what they see in movies and on TV,” he says. “Most people hesitate or don't react and may even actually fire their weapons. And that's a really good thing. That's the way we are.”
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“If you decide to become an armed citizen, please take a training class,” he said. “You have to learn how your weapon works. You have to actually learn how all similar types of weapons work, like the one you own.” Yes, and you need to take actual lessons on how to safely handle that weapon. And some of those lessons should be learned by your state's laws. [regarding] The use of deadly physical force or even the threat of deadly physical force. ”
