Don't Give the Burglar a Helping Hand

Most home burglars are amateurs looking for easy targets. They're looking for homes which present the least risk of detection; the greatest opportunity for easy access; and the maximum potential for escape. They're looking for homes which appear unoccupied and unprotected; without adequate locks and light; open or unlocked doors and windows; and home sites which provide easy concealment form neighbors and passing motorist which would be the natural users of the neighborhood. To make your home less inviting to a burglar, and to increase the natural surveillance of your home, consider employing some of these effective and inexpensive crime prevention measures. By following these suggestions you can decrease your chances of becoming a victim.

Survey Your Home

Look at your home through a burglar's eyes. Does it look like an easy target? Are there obvious security weaknesses?

1. Shrubbery should not obscure doors and windows. Trim the growth so that a burglar cannot work undetected.

2. At night leave a few lights burning outside your home. Lights over doorways and garages and strategically placed area lights will make your home less inviting to burglar. Use photo sensors to turn the lights off during the day time hours.

3. Windows and doors should be securely locked. Inadequate locks should be replaced or supplemented.

4. Make your home look occupied at all times. Use timer switches on inside lights and appliances (TV & Radio) to give the illusion that your home is occupied.

5. Security weaknesses around the your home can be identified by a free home inspection by the Durham Police Department.

When the house is occupied, a key should be left in the keyhole or a convenient location as a means of fast exit in case of a fire. Always remove the key when leaving home. The striker plate should be secured to the door jamb with three inch long screws. For maximum security, consider installing a heavy duty striker plate which has four mounting screws. If a burglar breaks in another way, such as a window, don't provide an easy point of exit through the door. The more trouble they have getting out, the less they will be able to carry away with him. Sticks, bars (Charlie Bars) and broom handles in the tracks of sliding glass doors provide some protection, but they can be removed. Burglars can still pry sliding glass doors open and lift it out of its frame. Sliding glass doors can be pinned for extra security. Remember to secure your locks at all times to reduce chances of you becoming a victim. Do not hide a key under a mat, beneath a flowerpot or on a near by window sill. These places are well known by the burglars. The best place to secure a key outside the home, is with a trusted neighbor.

If a burglar can't easily get through a door, they may well try a window. Proper home security should take this fact into account. While most burglars avoid breaking glass due to the fear of attracting attention, they usually try to pry open windows. There are many inexpensive products on the market for prevention of this type of entry:

1. Double-hung windows latches may be jimmied or pried open. Drill a downward hole into the top of the bottom window and into the bottom of the top window. Insert a pin or nail that can be removed in case of fire.

2. With sliding windows, the primary objective is to keep the window from sliding or being lifted up and out of the track. Pins, anti-slide blocks and slide bolts are effective methods of deterrence. Check with a hardware dealer for advice.

3. Louvered windows can be better secured by removing the crank. Again keep the crank in a convenient location for fire safety.

If you would like to schedule a home security survey, please contact Durham District 2 substation.

Crime Prevention Officer District 2 Substation
560-4582 ext. 235