Burglary Prevention for the Home Owner
When you have to leave home, even for a few minutes, make sure that all doors and windows are locked.
If you have an alarm system, use it, every time you leave the house and at night.
When you are out in the yard, lock the doors. Daylight burglaries while people are at home are common.
Don't leave anything in your yard that a burglar might use to gain
entry to your home. Ladders and certain gardening equipment make great
break-in tools. Do not leave lawn movers, bicycles, or other property
unattended in your yard.
Keep valuable stamp, jewelry, and coin collections in a safe deposit box rather than at home.
A privacy fence that blocks the view of your home from the street or
neighbors can also provide cover for burglars. Consider a picket or
chain-link fence instead.
Trim your shrubbery around doors, and windows so it will not provide a
hiding place or cover a point of entry view from police or neighbors.
Consider removing tree limbs that might allow for a second-story entry
through a window or balcony.
Make sure all locks on doors and windows are in working order. The
front door should be a solid core door with a dead bolt lock and a peep
hole. The dead bolt lock, when in the locked position, should slide
into the door jam a minimum of one (1) inch. All sliders should have
auxiliary locks, and you should also put screws in the top track to
take out the slack from the frame to the door. Side doors leading
outside the home, especially those that have windows, should have a
double cylinder dead bolt. The inside key should not be kept near the
door. All windows should have good working locks.
Keep all your vehicles locked. Do not leave property in your vehicle.
Never admit anyone into your home unless you know him/her. Insist that
the visitor call out his/her identity. Demand credentials before
admitting salesmen, or repairmen, particularly if you have not
requested their presence. Refuse to deal with any caller of this type
who does not present proper identification. Notify the Sheriff's Office
immediately.
Be alert in protecting not only your home, but your neighbors as well.
Do not tell a stranger that your neighbor is not home. A residence that
presents a live-in appearance is a deterrent to burglars.
Never leave notes on the door informing anyone you are not at home. Do
not hide keys outside your home. Burglars know where to look.
When you leave town, arrange for someone to mow your yard and pick up
circulars, newspapers, mail, etc. Many burglars watch the newspaper
accounts of vacationers. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home
while you're away and leave information on your whereabouts with
him/her.
Be sure all gates are securely locked. Set timers to switch the lights
on and off at predetermined times and locations inside and outside the
house. Install motion detector lights around the exterior of your home.
Keep a record of the Model and Serial number of televisions, radios, stereos, firearms, etc.
Be cautious of strangers. A burglar rarely looks like a burglar. When
in doubt, call the Sheriff's Office. Observe carefully and report ALL
suspicious persons and vehicles. Be sure to get the correct license
numbers of suspect vehicles.
Report any crime to the Sheriff's Office at once and be willing to
testify. Cooperate with officers investigating an offense in your
neighborhood.
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