one comment | Is your home really safe once you leave for work or school? Your home is considered a sanctuary where you should feel safe. Protecting your home and family from criminal intrusion should be high on your list of priorities. By far, the most common threat to your home is burglary. According to the FBI, a burglary occurs somewhere in the United States every 15.4 seconds.
According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2004; 61.4% of all burglaries were by forcible entry (breaking windows, prying doors, etc.) and over 62% of residential burglaries occurred during the daylight hours.
Whether you leave your home for five minutes or five weeks, recognize that it’s vulnerable whenever it’s unoccupied. While you cannot be home all of the time, you can secure your home in a way that works for you around the clock.
Tips for Burglary Prevention
Alarm systems
The reason why alarms systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign, from the alarm decals on the window and the audible horn or bell (if used).
Neighborhood Watch
Your neighbors play an important part in your overall burglary prevention program. When you are away, you trust that they will report any suspicious activity around your home. The security of their home is linked to the security of yours. If their home is not burglar-proof, then a burglar might spend more time evaluating your neighborhood. Burglars tend to avoid neighborhoods that are collectively security conscious. An aware neighborhood is a safer neighborhood.
Lighting
Streetlights are another important crime deterrent for your neighborhood, but your personal residence should also be well lit. Porch lights and motion-sensitive lighting are recommended for most homes. With a motion-sensitive light, an intruder is bathed in light the instant he/she steps into your yard.
Timers
Timers on outdoor lamps, radios and televisions create the impression that someone is at home. They can be used to control lamps during the evening and radios and televisions during the day. However, do not set your timers to turn on every light in your home promptly at the same time each night. Some timers
have a built-in random pattern that slightly varies the daily ON/OFF time.
Doors
Sliding glass doors can be lifted off their tracks. For maximum security, use vertical bolts. Also place a metal or solid wood rod on the inside track to hold the door closed.
The garage 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.
Back doors are a popular target because they are often hidden from the street and many homeowners leave them unlocked. It’s important to keep your back door well lighted and install a deadbolt.
If your doors have sidelight panels on the side, burglars can smash these panels to open the door. If you have sidelight panels, make sure to use a break-resistant material or replace them.
Windows
One of the most common entry points for burglars is a ground level window at the rear side of a home. Window locks are an inexpensive way to keep intruders out.
Possessions
Don’t rely on a panicked memory to give police a description of your property. A written inventory is sufficient, but other methods of documentation, such as videotaping or still photographs, are also effective. Make two copies of your inventory, keeping one copy in your home and another in a safe location outside of the home.
Remember that none of these measures will help you if you leave your doors and windows unlocked. It only takes a few minutes for a thief to rob you of your most valued possessions. Always lock your doors, no matter how soon you plan to return.
If you return home and find your door or window ajar, go to a neighbor’s home and call the police. The sooner they arrive, the greater the chance that your possessions will be recovered. While you wait for the police to arrive, don’t touch anything or attempt to clean up the mess. You may ruin important evidence. When the police arrive, provide them with a copy of your inventory. This will make it easier to identify a suspect who is caught with your valuables.
Tags: deputy shannon wheeler, FBI, lake elsinore station, riverside county sheriff's department, SWRNN
Comment by: mike Posted: February 13, 2010, 2:45 pm
The best way to prevent burlaries is using a audio outside system as it will alert ur neghbors.I have been burlarized 5 times and the police did nothing that helped