Maine Lakefront Property Owners Take Precautions to Secure Camps

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Maine Lakefront Property Owners Take Precautions to Secure Camps

378411700_64a61d6c11_zNorth Pond in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine

Lakefront property owners may have seen this week’s headline in the Kennebec Journal about Maine’s North Pond Hermit who spent the last 27 years burglarizing summer camps and cabins, and even Pine Tree Camp, a residential summer camp for children and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities. It’s an incredible story and one that makes us pause.



Spring and fall are prime months for break ins, when there’s no snow on the ground to track the intruder.
There are many reasons to spend a bit of time properly closing your seasonal home in the late summer or fall–to avoid burst pipes, rodents, structural damage and  . . . vandalism. Using common sense, you can’t guarantee your lakefront home won’t be broken into, but you can take steps to reduce the likelihood.
Here are a few things to think about when securing your lakefront home:
Make sure all doors are locked. Remember, you get what you pay for so don’t scrimp on locks. And make sure you have keys to all locks. Deadbolts are another option to thwart intruders.
Lock windows securely. Also think about installing limiting pins that you can purchase at the local hardware store or simply nail in blocks of wood. These are “stops” that prevent windows from being opened more than a pre-selected height, so you can allow for ventilation, but prevent a body from entering.
Cover windows. Close all window blinds or curtains to obscure any valuables left behind. For any windows without these coverings, consider using a bed sheet. Another option is to nail plywood over the outside of windows, which will protect them from weather and keep unwanted visitors out.
Foundation plantings should be trimmed so that they aren’t any higher than the window sills. Plants should also not provide a place to hide, so think about that when planning any landscaping projects.
Take as many valuables as possible with you. If you need to leave some items, hide them well or lock them up in an obscure place.
Motion detector lights and remote sensor cameras may also give you peace of mind.  And finally, ask a neighbor or hire a year-round resident to keep an eye on your place.
All that being said, there’s also the option some folks take–of leaving the door unlocked.  We know of one such instance where a remote cabin is left this way and visitors are asked to write a note in the journal and leave it as clean as they found it. They’ve been doing this for years, and never had a problem.
To view lakefront properties for sale in the Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine, click on the green box above.
To learn more about North Pond and other lakes in the area, check out the blog links below.
East and North Ponds in Belgrade Lakes Region offer Spectacular Hideaway Opportunities
The Belgrade Lakes Region of Maine

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