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Crime Prevention Tips

You can do something to protect yourself from burglary and robbery in your home.

General -

• Make cooperative agreements with your neighbors to contact the police if either of you see anything suspicious going on around the other's home.
• Make sure no keys to your doors are hidden outside in the mailbox, under the doormat or in other predictable places.
• Remove all identification tags from your key ring. In the event a potential burglar should find them, he will not know where to use your keys.
• Recored the serial numbers of television sets, radios, computers, appliances and other valuable property. Mark your social security number on those items with an engraving pen.
• Keep large amounts of cash and other valuables in a bank safety deposit box.
• Lock your ladder and tools in the garage or basement.

Doors-

• Lock doors and keep them locked, even when you are home. Use door locks that require a key to lock and unlock them.
• If any of your outside doors can be opened by breaking out a panel of glass or light wood, replace that panel with unbreakable material.
• Equip doors that do not have secure locks with heavy bolt or similar device that can be opened only from the inside, including basement doors.
• If doors have hinges on the outside, they should be replaced with non-removable hinges.
• Install a wide-angle lens peephole to allow you to see visitors without opening the door.
• Install outside lighting to eliminate dark areas around doors or windows

Windows-

• Lock windows and keep them locked.
• Secure the windows you use with pins that keep them from being opened and entered.
• Install a grill over out-of-the-way window, like those located in the basement.

Lighting-

• Leave front and back porch lights on at night.
• Leave some lights and the television set on when you are away at night.

Strangers-

• Look to see whom your visitors are before unlocking your door. If you don't know them, don't permit them to enter your home.
• Always require I.D. from repairmen and utility servicemen before permitting them to enter your home

Extended Absences-

• Inform a trusted neighbor of your intended absence and ask them not to tell anyone you are away.
• Arrange for a relative or neighbor to periodically check on your home.
• Cancel home deliveries of mail, newspapers, etc..
• Make arrangements to have your shrubs and lawn cared for.
• Use electrical timers to turn lights and radio or television on and off at preset times.
• Notify the local police department of your extended absence and ask them to check your home

Suspect a burglar?

• If you return home and observe that a door or window has been forced to open, do not enter the home. Go to a neighbor's house and call the police.
• If you go into the house and discover that your home has been burglarized or vandalized, do not disturb anything. Call the police immediately.
• If you enter your home and discover an intruder, try to retreat quietly and without being seen. If you do confront the intruder, make no attempt to antagonize or attack him. Remain calm, comply with his demands, observe his description and telephone the police immediately upon his departure.