Over the past month, the East Birchwood section of Jericho has been hit with a string of burglaries, according to local residents and officers in the second squad. Although no numbers have been confirmed, it is believed that there have been between six and ten break-ins.

Currently, there are no suspects and, since the break-ins all happened when the victims were not home, no one has been able to give a description. It is not even known if the same individual is responsible for all of the break-ins.

What is known is that all of the break-ins have occurred while no one was home. According to reports, the burglars work quickly, taking cash, jewelry and, in one case, a computer although, according to detectives, jewelry is the prime target.

Police officers advise the community to stick together and help one another out. "The only way to help this is for the neighbors to watch out for each other," said Officer Janice Boyd from the Problem Orientated Policing unit in the second precinct. "We need the people to be our eyes and ears."

Officer Boyd offered the following tips to both the Birchwood Civic Association and East Birchwood residents.

* Don't assume that a burglar alarm is sufficient protection. Anyone who hears a neighbor's alarm ring should contact 911 with the address immediately. These criminals work quickly and have been able to escape undetected before the police can respond to a central station call. In addition, burglars have been cutting phone lines to prevent the alarm from notifying central station.

* Anyone who sees a suspicious vehicle (car, bike, truck etc.) parked or moving slowly through the neighborhood should call 911 and ask to have it investigated immediately. This includes delivery trucks and service vehicles that are present at unusual hours. Also, contact 911 if you see someone walking or running though backyards.

* Exterior lights should be on around homes after dark. Motion detector lights are effective as they come on when they detect movement in a specific area. In addition, interior lights should be on and visible outside all night, even if no one is home.

* If possible, keep all valuables in a bank vault. Do not keep cash and jewelry in bedrooms, as burglars tend to look there first. Do not leave car keys in a visible location or hide a house key outside of the home. Also, don't leave the car open with a remote garage door opener inside.

* Don't let the house look empty. Mail should not be visible from outside. Provide a mail slot or a box large enough to contain the delivery. (Any resident with a mail slot should make sure it is far enough from the doorknob so that a burglar can't reach in and open the door.) Bring in newspapers and circulars promptly. Don't leave emptied trashcans out on the sidewalk. Ask a neighbor for help if the house is going to be unoccupied and if an extended vacation is planned, call the second precinct at 573-6200 and ask them to keep an eye on the house.

* Be sure to lock all doors and windows. Doors should have vertical dropbolt or deadbolt locks, at least 5/8-inch square and protruding one inch from the lock. Make sure the door has a reinforced strike plate and that the screws used to attach the strike to the frame are long enough to be secured into the wall studs. If the door opens outward, make sure the hinge pins are not removable. If the home has panes of glass within 40 inches of the doorknob, use a double cylinder deadbolt lock that can only be opened with a key, even from the inside (Keep the key nearby in case of emergency.)

* Any home with double hung windows with a crescent latch - this is not meant to be a lock. The best way to lock these windows is by pinning the windows with a "ten penny" nail. Drill a 3/16 inch hole through the inside sash and 3/4 of the way through the outer sash at a slight downward angle. Insert the nail in the hole. It should fit loosely and be easy to remove. For extra security with casement windows, remove the crank handle. Install metal grills or polycarbonate plastic over the glass area of basement windows or install window guards across the windows. Just keep in mind the need for a means of escape in case of fire.

The best protection against break-ins is vigilance. Each resident must take responsibility for being the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. The police department has increased patrols in East Birchwood, which should facilitate quicker responses to calls. However, the calls are crucial. Do not hesitate to call 911 if anything unusual if happening.

For further information, please call Officer Janice Boyd at 573-6270.