Below you will
find tips on how to protect your home against crime.
Alarms
No alarm system will make your home 100% safe from an intruder. However, a good
system can deter and/or detect most non-professional burglars and give you some
peace of mind. Reputable companies will install and maintain a system that will
ring an alarm on the premises and silently signal the company's headquarters for
dispatching the police. Once the company representative has made an appraisal of
your security needs, ask for a written proposal and a copy of the contract you
will have to sign. Make sure the contract lists all the points of protection,
the equipment to be installed, and the initial and monthly payments. You should
also check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for an alarm
discount.
Dogs
In most cases dogs can be a secondary security system as long as they will bark
when necessary to give a warning. Dogs can scare a stranger away by either
barking or looking fierce. But remember that they can be lured away, poisoned,
killed, or even stolen. Trained attack dogs are not recommended because the risk
of liability to the owner is great should the dog attack an innocent person.
Outside dogs should be kept in a fenced area with a good lock on the gate.
Doors
Make sure that all exterior single-swing wooden doors are of solid-core or
paneled construction, with a minimum thickness of 1-3/4 inches. Install a
wide-angle (180 degree) peephole. The peephole will let you see who is at the
door without them seeing you or having to open the door. Hinges should be
located on the inside of your house or have non-removable pins. Exterior sliding
glass patio doors can be pulled up in their tracks making the locks useless. One
way to prevent this is to install a few sheet-metal screws in the top track with
their heads nearly touching the top of the door when it is closed.
Fences, Walls, and Gates
Enclose rear and side yards. Open chain-link or ornamental metal fencing is
recommended unless there is a need for privacy or noise reduction. Chain-link
fencing should have its bottom edge secured with a tension wire or galvanized
pipe, or should be seated in concrete to prevent easy lifting. Solid fences or
walls are not recommended because they are easier to climb, provide hiding
places for intruders, and are subject to graffiti. Sharp pointed fencing, i.e.,
fencing with spikes or a barbed- or concertina-wire topping, is not permitted in
residential areas. Mount gate latches with carriage bolts and make sure that the
nuts are welded on, or the bolt threads are stripped to prevent nut removal.
Helping the Police Get to Your Home
Make sure your street address number is clearly visible from the street and is
well lighted at night so the police and other emergency personnel can locate
your home easily. Numbers should be at least 6 inches high. Numbers on curbs or
mailboxes should not be the only way to identify your house. If numbers are
painted on curbs, they should be located near driveways where they are not
likely to be blocked by parked vehicles. Make sure your unit number (in a
multifamily housing development) is clearly visible from paths in the
development. A directory or map that shows paths and unit locations should be
placed at the main entrance of the development. Provide the police with an entry
code if your community or development has a security gate.
Identifying Your Property
Etch your driver's license number on any valuables that might be stolen.
Photograph valuables that cannot be etched. Keep a detailed, up-to-date record
of your valuables. Include type, model, serial number, and fair market value.
Landscaping
Trim trees so that limbs don't provide a means of getting on roofs or second
stories, or of getting over a wall or fence. Trim tree canopies to at least 8
feet to allow visibility into your property. Trim bushes to less than 3 feet to
eliminate possible hiding places, especially near windows, sidewalks, and
exterior doors. Make sure that trees and bushes do not block lights. Plant
bushes with thorns or prickly leaves under ground-level windows to make access
more difficult for burglars and along fences and walls to make climbing more
difficult and prevent graffiti.
Lighting
Illuminate your property at night. Don't depend on streetlights or lights from
adjoining properties. Leave outside lights on after dark. Make sure there are no
shadows or dark areas around the house, garage, or yard in which a person could
hide. Check lights regularly and replace burnt out bulbs. Protect your lights
from vandals with wire covers. Be sure your lights don't shine into the eyes of
passing motorists or police patrols. Padlock your circuit breaker box to prevent
lights from being turned off. Good four-corner exterior lighting is important,
particularly where there are dark areas around the house. Floodlights installed
under eaves can illuminate these areas and expose anyone next to the house.
Timers or photoelectric cells can be used to turn lights on at dusk and off at
dawn. And motion sensors can be used to turn lights on when any motion is
detected.
Locks
Doorknob locks offer no security. They can easily be forced open. Chains don't
provide security either. They are only good for privacy. All doors leading into
the house should have a deadbolt lock. Install single cylinder deadbolt locks on
all exterior doors. Bolts should have a minimum bolt length of 1 inch. Strike
plates should have screws that are at least 3 inches long. On all exterior
double doors, install flush bolts at the top and bottom of the inactive door.
These should be made of steel and have a minimum bolt length of 1 inch. Install
deadbolt locks on all outside sliding glass patio doors. You should also use a
back up locking device such as a wooden stick that is placed in the lower track
to prevent the door from opening. Better security can be obtained from
thumbscrew-type locks that are mounted on both the top and bottom tracks.
Install good locks on all doors that lead outside through garages or storage
areas. Re-key or change all locks when moving into a new home. Install good
locks on gates, garages, sheds, etc. If you use a padlock, you should use one
that has to be opened with a key and cannot be opened by bolt cutters or pry
bars. The shackles should be made of hardened steel and be at least 9/32 inch
thick. It is even better to use a "shielded" padlock that is designed to protect
against bolt cutters. Combination locks should not be used because they offer
very poor security. Use a multi-frequency opener on electrically-operated garage
doors, and make sure that the bottom cannot be lifted up to allow a burglar to
crawl under the door. Use hardened steel hinges, hasps, and padlocks on
hand-lifted garage doors. Install cane bolts or sliding hasps on the inside of
garage doors to provide additional security. Go to a locksmith or hardware store
for advice on locks.
Maintaining Your Property
It is important to keep your property in good condition. Criminals are attracted
to property in poor condition because they see that the owners or tenants do not
care about it. Keep property free of trash, litter, weeds, leaves, dismantled or
inoperative vehicles, and other things that indicate neglect in caring for your
property. Remove graffiti as soon as possible after it is found. This will
discourage further vandalism. The graffiti should be covered with matching paint
so a "canvas" is not left for the vandals. Hardware or paint stores should be
consulted regarding the best products for removing various types of graffiti
from specific surfaces without damaging the surface. Extreme care should be used
in applying special graffiti removal products like MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) or
"Graffiti Remover" on glass or unpainted surfaces. Replace broken windows or
screens. Repair broken fences and gate locks. Use screens, wired glass, or other
protection for light fixtures and bulbs. Remove loose rocks and other objects
that could be used to vandalize your property.
Other Openings
Pet doors, crawl spaces, ventilation windows, and other openings should be
secured. Also make sure that window air conditioners are installed securely and
cannot easily be removed from the outside.
Outdoor Storage
Metal sheds provide good additional storage space provided they are assembled
correctly and have a good padlock.
Protecting Your Home While You Are Away
Many of these actions are intended to make it appear that you are not away from
home. Use timers on lights, radios, TVs, etc. to make them go on and off during
the day and night to make your home appear occupied. Stop mail and newspaper
delivery, or have a neighbor pick up anything left at the home. Keep grass
watered and cut. Water and trim other landscaping. Ask the neighbors to watch
your home and report any suspicious activities. Leave your itinerary with a
neighbor so you can be contacted in an emergency. Disconnect your electric
garage door opener and padlock the door, preferably on the inside.
Security Measures
You and your home will not be safe unless you follow good security practices.
These tips will help make your protective measures effective. Keep all doors and
windows locked, even if you are just going out "for a minute." If a window is
left open a few inches for ventilation, it should be locked to prevent someone
from opening it more. Lock gates, garages, and sheds after each use. Store
bicycles, mowers, etc. in a locked garage or shed, or secure them to some
stationary point. Don't leave notes on your door when you are away from home.
Don't leave keys in mailboxes or planters, under doormats, or in other obvious
hiding spots. Leave an extra key with a neighbor. Learn to recognize who belongs
in your neighborhood, development, or apartment, i.e., residents, workers,
guests, etc. Know who's at your door before opening it. Check photo registration
card before dealing with any solicitors, peddlers, interviewers, etc. Be
suspicious of persons making unsolicited offers of services. Post a NO
SOLICITING sign if you don't want any solicitor to ring your door bell, knock on
your door, or make any other sound to attract your attention. Ask for photo
identification before letting in anyone you don't know. Check out the
identification with the company or agency if you are suspicious. Never let a
stranger enter your home to use the telephone. Offer to make the call yourself
in an emergency. Don't give your name or whereabouts on your answering machine
message. Never say you aren't home. Don't leave your home keys on a chain with
your vehicle keys when you use valet parking. Also, don't leave your garage door
opener where it is easily accessible. Keep your vehicle registration, proof of
insurance, and any other papers with your home address on them where a criminal
is not likely to find them. Don't give maids, babysitters, valets, or others
working in your home access to your home keys. Call the police at 9-1-1 if you
are at home and hear or see something suspicious. Don't take direct action
yourself. An officer will be dispatched to your address even if you cannot speak
or hang up. Don't go in or call out if you return home and suspect someone has
broken into your home, for example if a window or screen is broken, a door is
ajar, or a strange vehicle is parked in the driveway. Go to a neighbor's home
and call the police. Don't discuss your finances or possessions with strangers.
Keep valuable papers, jewelry, etc. in a bank safe deposit box. Don't store them
at home unless you have a security closet or a safe that is well hidden and
cannot be removed.
Windows
Secure double-hung sash windows by drilling a hole that angles downward through
a top corner of the bottom window into the bottom corner of the top window on
both sides of the window. Place an eyebolt or nail in the hole to prevent the
window from being opened. Replace louver windows with solid glass or some other
type of ventilating window. If this cannot be done, glue the panes together with
a two-part epoxy resin. Secure casement windows with key-locking latches. Make
sure that the protrusion on the window that the lock is attached to is made of
steel and not worn, and that the window closes properly and is not bowed or
warped. Secure sliding-glass windows as described above for sash windows or by
the same types of locking devices used for sliding-glass doors. Consider
installing security bars on side, rear, or other windows that a burglar might
break to enter your home. Make sure that the retaining bolts cannot be removed
from the outside. Bars must comply with Fire Code requirements for inside
release to permit an occupant to escape in the event of a fire. Reinforce the
glass in viewing windows on the lock sides of doors so a burglar cannot break
them and reach in to open the door.