Jun 12, 2014

Be A Crime Stopper: A Home Security Primer



Home security is important whether in a home or an apartment. The best efforts of law enforcement to reduce crime will be of no avail without citizens doing their part to protect themselves and one another.

Believe it or not, most home burglaries are not committed by professionals who have planned for months to commit a specific crime. Rather, most are committed by opportunists who see an open window, a faulty lock or some other opportune situation. A large number of burglaries are classified as "no force", e.g. the burglar simply walked through an unlocked door or climbed in an open window.

While burglary is one of the most frequently committed crimes, it is also one of the most preventable. And the person who can prevent it is you!
 



Burglary prevention involves five concepts: deter, deny, delay, detect and deceive.

Deter: Place Operation I. D. decals on the windows to let the burglar know that property items were marked. Use an inexpensive etching pencil or engraver and number your personal property for easy identification. Take pictures of smaller items. Place Neighborhood Watch decals where they can easily be viewed. Let criminals know the people in your community are working actively to reduce crime. Take car license numbers and descriptions of suspicious persons. Place home security signage in clear view.

Deny: Place valuable in a secure location, e. g. a wall safe, security closet or securely locked container. Just because burglars gain access, doesn't mean they should just walk away with your valuables. Do not leave an extra key under a door mat or on top of a door frame, etc. If you lose your keys, have a lock smith change tumblers in your outside door locks quickly. Keep car and house keys separate.

Delay: Install key-locking latches on windows. Delay a burglar by locking the door leading into your house from the garage.

Detect: Install an alarm system. Join a Neighborhood Watch program so that neighbors will be watching your house.

Deceive: Place automatic timers on lights to simulate the home is occupied. have neighbors pick up mail and other deliveries and mow the lawn to maintain a lived in appearance.


The longer a burglar is denied entry, the greater the chances for observation by neighbors and law enforcement. Make the burglar go elsewhere to an easier target. The more crime prevention steps you take, the greater your security.

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