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The burglary basics:
 | Make your home look
occupied, and make it difficult to break
in.
|
| Lock all outside
doors and windows before you leave the
house or go to bed. Even if it is for a
short time, lock your doors.
|
| Leave lights on when
you go out. If you are going to be away
for a length of time, connect some lamps
to automatic timers to turn them on in
the evening and off during the day.
|
| Keep your garage door
closed and locked.
|
| Don't allow daily
deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers
build up while you are away. Arrange
with the Post Office to hold your mail,
or arrange for a friend or neighbor to
take them regularly.
|
| Arrange for your lawn
to be mowed if you are going away for an
extended time.
|
| Check your locks on
doors and windows and replace them with
secure devices as necessary.
|
| Pushbutton locks on
doorknobs are easy for burglars to open.
Install deadbolt locks on all your
outside doors.
|
| Sliding glass doors
are vulnerable. Special locks are
available for better security.
|
| Other windows may
need better locks. Check with a
locksmith or hardware store for
alternatives. |
Don't tempt a
thief:
| Lawn mowers, snow
blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best
stored out of sight.
|
| Always lock your
garden sheds and garages.
|
| Use curtains on
garage and basement windows.
|
| Never leave notes on
your door such as "Gone shopping."
|
Locks単et the
best:
| No lock, regardless
of its quality, can be truly effective.
Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum
security. Ask a locksmith for advice on
your situation.
|
| Change locks
immediately if your keys are lost or
stolen.
|
| When moving into a
new home, have all locks changed.
|
Targeting the
Outside:
| Have adequate
exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive
light is recommended for backyards.
|
| Trim trees and shrubs
so that they cannot be used as hiding
places for intruders.
|
| Make sure your door
hinges are on the inside. |
Windows:
| Most windows can be
pinned for security.
|
| Drill a 3/16" hole on
a slight downward slant through the
inside window frame and halfway into the
outside frame - place a nail in the hole
to secure the window. |
Alarms:
| An alarm system is
excellent for home security. It provides
peace of mind to homeowners, especially
while on vacation. There is a wide
variety of alarm systems on the market.
|
| Make several
inquiries to different companies for the
best security system available to you.
|
If Your Home Is
Broken Into:
If you come home to find an unexplained
open/broken window or door:
| Do not enter - the
perpetrator may still be inside.
|
| Use a neighbor's
phone to call police.
|
| Do not touch anything
or clean up until the police have
inspected for evidence.
|
| Write down the
license plate numbers of any suspicious
vehicles.
|
| Note the descriptions
of any suspicious persons. |
Other precautions you
should take:
| Never leave keys
under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or
other "secret" hiding places -- burglars
know where to look for hidden keys.
|
| Keep a detailed
inventory of your valuable possessions,
including a description of the items,
date of purchase and original value, and
serial numbers, and keep a copy in a
safe place away from home -- this is a
good precaution in case of fires or
other disasters. Make a photographic or
video record of valuable objects,
heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance
company can provide assistance in making
and keeping your inventory.
|
| Trim your shrubbery
around your home to reduce cover for
burglars.
|
| Be a good neighbor.
If you notice anything suspicious in
your neighborhood, call 9
immediately. |
| Mark your valuables
with your driver's license number with
an engraver you can borrow from your
precinct. Marked items are harder for a
burglar to dispose of and easier for
police to recover.
|
| Form a Neighborhood
Watch Group. We can help you work with
your neighbors to improve security and
reduce risk of burglary.
|
| Consider installing a
burglar alarm system. |
The MOST important thing
YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a
CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have
to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And
remember you can always remain a pair of
anonymous eyes!
Remember the three L's of Crime Prevention:
LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW!
Light
up your residence, lock
your doors at all times, and call the Law
when you see something suspicious. |
|
