Crime Prevention Tips

Preventing a Burglary

A burglary occurs every 14 seconds in the United States, and two-thirds of those break-ins are residential. The longer a break-in takes, the better the chances that the burglar will be caught. Here are ideas to use that add more security to your home.

• Lock your doors at night and every time you leave the house- even if it is just for a few minutes.
• Install a security-rated door (preferably solid wood or metal-clad) with a peephole, e.g. a flush wood lumber core door, 1-3/4 inches thick or a hollow metal 18-gauge door.
• Upgrade hardware on perimeter doors and windows, as well as inside privacy fences that will survive a 60 second burglar attack.
• Use a deadbolt lock with a one-inch bolt throw on doors. The lock should be furnished with at least two one-quarter-inch case hardened bolts. It should be equipped with a cylinder guard to prevent a wrenching attack with pliers or vise grip type tools, and should be placed at least 12 inches above the doorknob and at least 40 inches away from windows, glass panels and other openings such as mail slots.
• Keep your windows closed, and lock them, even in the open position. Make sure the lock cannot be defeated from the outside.
• Secure sliding glass doors with a specially designed steel or wood bar, which prevents prying or jimmying. It is also a good idea to install a series of roundhead screws and angle irons to secure the stationary panel.
• Prepare your master bedroom for use as an emergency refuge in the event that an intruder comes into your home while you are inside. Install a solid wood door with a quality lock and equip the room with a phone, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and noisemaker.
• Install a secondary lock on the garage door. Do not count on the automatic garage door opener for security.
• Make sure that there is no camouflage around the back door, basement windows, ground level windows and the front door. Trim shrubs below sill height and install bright lights in entrance areas to illuminate visitors.
• Make an agreement with your neighbors to watch each other's homes for suspicious activity.
• Make your home look lived in. If you are away for an extended period of time, stop mail delivery, have interior lights on timers, leave a radio playing, etc…
• Keep your home well lit and visible through the night.
• Install motion-sensored lighting in landscaping.
• Do not hide your key in obvious places, such as under the doormat or flowerpot, or above the doorframe.
• Do not leave ladders outside. Keep any tools that could be used to break in your home safely locked away in a garage or shed.
• Do not put valuables where they can be seen from the window, especially small, portable items.
• Do not keep large amounts of cash or expensive jewelry around the house. Consider having a safe deposit box.
• Videotape the contents of your home. Keep the video, along with a list of all your valuable possessions in a safe deposit box.
• If a stranger comes to the door, asking to use the phone, do not let him in. Make the call yourself.
• Secure all outdoor and personal property such as bikes, grills, lawn mowers, patio furniture, pool gates, etc. with quality cable locks, u-locks and padlocks to prevent theft.
• Make sure your house number is clearly visible so police and EMS vehicles can find your home easily.
• Contact your local police department and ask to speak with the crime prevention officer. They are trained to assess the needs of homeowners by doing a simple security survey. They can then recommend hardware and certain security procedures to eliminate or reduce the risk of burglary.
• If you arrive home, only to find that the door is open, DO NOT go inside. Instead go to a neighbor's house and immediately call the police. There is a chance that the intruder is still inside the house, and you do not want to put yourself in danger.