Home Security Burglary Prevention

1. Home Security Burglary Prevention Your best defense is to create an environment in which burglaries are less likely to occur. This can be accomplished by methods of physical security, the outside appearance of your residence, and by neighborhood and police cooperation. Created by: District III Detective Bureau

2. Your Home Neighborhood and Perimeter • Perform a security check on your home and neighborhood by exploring it. • Is it well lighted? Does your community have a neighborhood watch program? • Burglars tend to avoid neighborhoods that are security conscious. All neighborhoods benefit from announcing their vigilance with signs posted throughout the area or placed in the windows of homes. • While you can't treat every neighbor with suspicion, do not provide the temptation or opportunity by announcing trips or vacations to everyone you encounter. Entrust that information only to close neighbors and friends. • In the eyes of a burglar, an overgrown lawn suggests a vacancy and possible burglary target. Overgrown or extremely large trees or shrubs can hide burglary activity; they can be used as a ladder. For security's sake have them trimmed or moved. • Fences can be an effective part of your security, but they may be a liability in hiding a burglar's activity. Tall, chain link fences provide security without sacrificing visibility. watch what you leave in your yard. Be sure to put tools away after you are done. Your own ladders, screwdrivers, hammers or pliers can be used against you. • Your personal residence should be well lit. Porch lights and motion-sensitive lighting are recommended. With a motion-sensitive light, an intruder is bathed in light the instant he steps into your yard. Also consider photoelectric lighting, which automatically switches on at dusk and turns itself off at dawn so that you don't need to constantly turn the porch lights on and off. Protect lighting from breakage, inspect regularly and replace damaged or burned out bulbs promptly.

3. Home Entry Points The average burglar has only two options for entering your residence: Doors and Windows. Doors For external doors and doorframes, opt for solid wood or steel. Avoid leaving gaps around the doorframe, as this provides leverage for removing the door from its frame. Hinges should be positioned on the inside of the door so that a thief with a screwdriver will be unable to remove the entire door. Deadbolt Locks A "Thumb Turn Deadlock" can be used on all exterior doors where windows are not in or near the door. Exterior doors should be of "solid core" construction. The bolt should have at least a one inch "case hardened" throw and the strike plate must be attached securely through the door frame into the home structure using at least 1-1/2 inch "case hardened" screws. Sliding Glass Doors The most inexpensive way to secure a sliding glass door is to insert 1-1/2 inch pan head (large head) sheet metal screws into the top of the doorframe at both ends and in the middle. Adjust the screws so that the door barely clears them when it is operated. This will keep the door from being lifted and removed from the track and from being forced open. In addition, place a metal or solid wood rod on the inside track to hold the door closed. The most effective protection for this type of door is a sliding bolt with a locking device. Porch or Patio Doors Treat porch and patio doors as any other outside door. Since they are usually more hidden from view from the street or by your neighbors, extra care should be used to secure them.

4. Home Entry Points Double Hung Sash Windows An easy, inexpensive way to secure your windows is to use the "pin" trick. Drill an angled hole through the top frame of the lower window partially into the frame of the upper window. Then insert a nail or an eyebolt. The window can't be opened until you remove the nail. Make a second set of holes with windows partly open so you can have ventilation without inviting intruders. Eyebolts can provide strong resistance against jimmying. If you live in a high crime area, it might be best to use them. Casement or Louvered Windows Removing the crank handle when the window is closed will offer some protection by preventing the entire window from being opened once one section is removed. When the handle is removed, keep it at least forty inches (40") away from the window so that it is out of the burglar's reach. Sliding Windows Sliding windows should be protected in the same way as a sliding glass door. Insert 1-1/2 inch pan head (large head) sheet metal screws into the top of the window at both ends and in the middle. Adjust the screws so that the window barely clears them when it is operated. This will keep the window from being lifted and removed from the track and from being forced open. In addition, place a metal or solid wood rod on the inside track to hold the window closed. The most effective protection for this type of window is a sliding bolt with a locking device.

5. ADDITIONAL SECURITY SUGGESTIONS • ALARMS • There are many types of alarms available commercially. The most important factor in selecting an alarm is to determine what your individual needs are and then select an alarm which will best meet these needs. Deal only with a licensed, bonded alarm company that installs Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved equipment. • LIGHTING • To prevent a burglar from concealing his activities, install exterior lighting to illuminate all doors and windows. Numerous commercial ornamental and functional lights are available with sensors or timers that will turn the lights on and off. • YARDS • Thick foliage provides the burglar with a place to work undetected. Keep shrubs away from all doors and windows. Large trees near the house should be well pruned so that the tree will not provide access to the second floor of the residence. Keep all ladders locked inside the garage when not being used. Make your home look like someone is there even when you are gone by having the grass cut in the summer months and the snow removed from the sidewalk and driveway in winter months. • MAILBOX • Do not display your name on the mailbox. A burglar will be able to locate your telephone number from it and call your house to see if you are home. • GARAGE • Garage doors are a frequent entry point. The door that connects your garage to your home should have solid wood or solid-core construction. Secure it with a deadbolt lock. Don't rely on the electric garage door opener as your only security measure. Also, when you are pulling out of your garage, take a few seconds to watch the door close completely. You do not want a thief to slip under the door before it closes and have easy access to your home. • SOLID DOORS • The insertion of an inexpensive door viewer (peep hole) will allow you to determine in advance whether the door should be opened for an otherwise unknown person ringing your bell.

6. NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS • Your best security device is your neighbor. Arrangements should be made with your neighbors to report any person or condition that is not consistent with the neighborhood. Statistics show that in neighborhoods where residents are concerned with their mutual safety, crime rates are lower. • Advise your neighbors when you will be gone for an extended period of time. • Ask them to report anything out of the ordinary to the police immediately. • Stop delivery or get a family member or friend to pick up mail and newspapers when gone for extended periods of time. • Your police department can check out suspicious vehicles or persons in minutes while it may take days/years to solve the burglary and by then the stolen items have probably been sold.

7. KEY SECURITY          The best lock available will not prevent a burglary if the security of the key is neglected. An experienced burglar is aware of the common places a resident chooses to conveniently "hide" a house key. Instead of trying to hide a house key, trust a neighbor and give them the extra key for your house. Remember to remove other keys from your ring when cars are taken in for service and left in parking lots. Burglars have been known to duplicate house keys while the resident never realized what happened. BURGLARY "IN PROGRESS“                 If you return home and find a door or window unexpectedly open or ajar, don't go in. Go to your nearest neighbor and contact the police. If you are inside your home and hear or see a prowler, don't investigate! Call the police! Upon notification, the police will send an officer to your house in minutes to handle this type of problem. If possible, watch from a distance and keep the police dispatcher informed of the person's actions.

8. COMMON BURGLARY TECHNIQUES Often a burglar will drive or walk through a subdivision looking for a home that appears unoccupied. This can be determined by clues such as an open garage without cars, an accumulation of mail or newspapers, packages left at the front door, or notes stuck on the door. The burglar will then approach the residence and ring the doorbell. If a resident answers, the burglar may pretend to be lost and ask for directions. If you have someone approach your home in this manner, call the police immediately. Try to get a description of the person and any involved vehicle, along with a license plate number if possible to pass on to the police. The police will verify the story and offer any necessary assistance.

9. 10 Quick Security Tips • Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks. • Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track. • Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security. • Create the illusion that you are home. by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Making your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, will deter criminals. • Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as highlight a house. • Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present. • Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence. • Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim. • Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door. • Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community.

10. The most effective home security program is one that deters burglars as soon as they view your residence.