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Crime Prevention Tips

Home Security Tips

If you were locked out of your house, would you still be able to get in? Do you have a key hidden for situations such as this? Maybe a small window is left unlocked? It may seem like a good idea, but think again. If it's easy for you to break into your house, it's easy for a criminal too. One is six homes will be burglarized this year and burglars will spend less than 60 seconds gaining entry into your home.

Look at your home from the outside. Is there landscaping around your home that could hide a potential burglar from view? Remember to keep shrubs trimmed so that they don't create a barrier around your doors and windows. Also remember to keep them trimmed at least a foot off the ground.

Check the external lighting around your house. Criminals hate bright lights and well-lit areas. Turn your porch light on at night and leave it on. Make sure that your address is clearly visible from the street so that in the event you require emergency services, emergency personnel can identify your address from the street.
Check the doors of your home. All exterior doors should be metal or solid wood. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains are not an effective means of keeping someone out; one well-placed kick and the chain will break.
Check the locks on your doors and windows. Did you know that many burglars gain entry into a home through unlocked doors and windows? Every external door should have a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt that has a minimum one-inch throw into the door framing, not just the molding. One door that is often left unlocked is the door between your garage and house. If criminals have a variety of garage door openers, they may be able to open your garage door and gain entry into your home. Windows should have key locks or pin locks that prevent them from being slid open or lifted out of the track.
Sliding glass doors should be fitted with a pin lock as well. Inserting a broomstick or doweling in the track may not prevent the door from being lifted out of the track.
Alarm system can be a good investment, but check with several companies to determine what service best fits your family's needs. Use reputable companies in the area. Make sure that all members of your family are trained in its usage. Too many false alarms will result in fines by the City.

Having a home that appears to have activity taking place within can be a deterrent to criminals. When you are not home, make sure that you don't have an accumulation of newspapers lying in your driveway. Open your window coverings during the day and close them at night. You can even leave a radio on in your home during the day; criminals can be deterred if they hear "noise" inside the house.

If you want to have a house key available for those little emergencies, give a key to a trusted neighbor, rather than storing it somewhere on your property. Criminals always seem to find them.

If you have any additional questions regarding home security or would like to schedule a home security presentation, please call the crime prevention office at 267-5170.

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