November 2011, House and Home

Protect the Home From Burglary

Mon, Oct 31, 2011

The first sign that something was wrong, that Alicia and her children saw that night when they returned home from the market, was the broken glass on the back porch. Next they realized that their back door was wide open and that the glass was from the window on door which had been broken. In shock, instead of staying outside and calling the police, they walked in to see what had happened. Fortunately, the individual or individuals that had broken into their home were gone, otherwise they would have probably been assaulted. Unfortunately, their television, Nintendo Wii, stereo, computer, and microwave had been stolen. 

A home is burglarized every 15 seconds, according to reports by the FBI and studies by State Farm Insurance. Many of these burglaries take place in broad daylight because this is when a home is most likely to be vacant. Breakins can shatter a sense of security at home, but fortunately they're one of the most preventable crimes 

Paying attention to the simplest security measures and developing a greater alertness to surroundings can help homeowners stay safe. Here are 10 recommended tips to safeguard against breakins. 

1. CLOSE AND LOCK ALL DOORS when leaving, even for short periods of time. Even if you believe your neighborhood is safe, why give burglars easy access? Lock the garage and any connecting doors as well. Burglars want easy jobs. That's why they scan homes for the weakest points of entry. 
2. USE AUTOMATIC TIMERS. Timers can be set to turn on and off lights, radios and televisions at varying times of the day. Also use them when on vacation or away for an extended period of time to give burglars the impression that someone is home. 
3. ILLUMINATE THE FRONT AND BACKYARD AREAS. Darkness is one of a burglar's best friends. Doorways and the rear of the house should be lit with cost effective, low voltage lighting to minimize dark spaces. 
4. STORE LADDERS, TOOLS OR LAWN FURNITURE under lock and key. Many times burglars use items left outside as ways to gain entry into a home. 
5. TRIM TREES AND SHRUBS. If overgrown, these areas serve as the perfect hiding places for burglars and allow them to work undetected. 
6. 6 ENLIST NEIGHBORS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. Local police departments can provide materials and assist in getting a program started. In the meantime, it helps to build a good relationship with your close neighbors, so that each one can watch the other neighbor's home while away. 
7. 7 KEEP AN INVENTORY OF YOUR VALUABLES and belongings and place jewelry and documents in a safedeposit box. Take photographs of all valuable possessions. These can also be marked with an engraving pen to help police trace and recover items if stolen. 
8. 8 USE WINDOW AND DOOR ALARMS. Alarms vary in their degree of sophistication, ranging from a door alarm to silent alarms patched into the local police station. Burglars typically will leave when any alarm is sounded. In addition, alarm systems can offer homeowners peace of mind. 
9. 9 DON'T ALLOW STRANGERS INTO THE HOME. Ask to see identification from service personnel, and don't allow people indoors to make phone calls. These individuals might be casing homes in the neighborhood. 
10. 10 DON'T LEAVE SPARE KEYS OUTDOORS. Experience has taught burglars to check under doormats and in flower pots for spare keys.