Posted by proforma on December 2, 2010 | No Comments
Here are excellent suggestions compiled from police and security firms for ensuring the safety of your family and property, especially vulnerable during the holiday season.
Landscaping and Yard Security
To avoid getting caught, intruders look for property they can get into and out of quickly. Their ideal target is a house surrounded by large hedges and shrubs, which hamper visibility from the street and neighbors houses.
If you have a second floor, prune trees so they can’t help a thief climb in second floor windows. Place trellises where they can’t be used as ladders to gain entry to the upper floors. Ground plants (shrubbery and bushes) within four (4) feet of any sidewalks, driveways, doors or gates, should be maintained at a height of not more than two (2) feet. Ground plants between four (4) and eight (8) feet of any sidewalks, driveways, doors, or gates, should be maintained at a height of not more than four (4) feet.
Ground plants under windows should be maintained at a height that is below the window sill. Trees should be trimmed so that the lower branches are more than six (6) feet off the ground. Place large gauge gravel on the ground near windows. The noise caused by intruders walking on it can become a psychological deterrent. DO NOT place river rocks or other items near glass windows or doors. You do not want to provide the burglar with his tools!
Street Numbers
Street numbers should be easily visible from the street. Critical time can be saved by emergency responders when the street address for the house is visible from a distance.
Limited or Direct Access to Yards and Store Rooms
Intruders look for no, or few obstacles blocking quick exits. Fences prevent burglars from carrying away large items if the gates are locked. Gates should be locked at all times, even when your are home!
Ladders and tools should be stored in a garage or storage shed, and these areas should be locked.
Exterior and Interior Lighting
Exterior lights are important, especially near doors and in the rear of the house, where intruders do most of their work. All sides of your home should be protected by security lighting that is located high out of reach, and is vandal resistant.
Lighting in carports and garages is critical. For garages, an automatic garage opener is the best choice. The best light to use on the exterior is a motion detector type of fixture. In the front yard, any type of lighting will be effective, as long the lighting pattern covers the entire front and sides of the house. When residents go out for an evening, they usually leave on their “burglar beacon”. A burglar beacon is a small light that is left on so they don’t walk into a dark house when they come home. These are lights like the one above the kitchen sink or stove, the hallway light, or a light in the corner of the living room. Unfortunately these lights are a signal for the criminal that no one is home. If you go out for an evening leave a radio and several lights on. When you go on vacation put at least two lights, in different parts of the house, and a radio on timers.
House and Garage Doors
Entry doors should be solid core wood (at least 1 3/4″ thick) or metal wrapped. Your door should fit it’s frame tightly, with no more than 1/8″ clearance between the door and the frame. If the gap is too big, replace the door or bolt a sturdy metal strip to the door edge. Doors with decorative glass panels or windows are easy marks. It takes only seconds to break the glass and unlock the door. If you do not want to replace such doors, install a break-resistant plastic panel, such as Lexan®, or decorative grille over the glass. Attach the grill with special non-removable screws. Your garage door should be securely locked at all times (even when you are home). Keeping it locked is just as important as keeping your home locked, especially if the garage is attached to the home. If you install a “doggie door” be sure it is not a way in for burglars as well as the dog. Do not be complacent by the fact that you have a small dog. Burglars come in all sizes!
Locks, Strike Plates and Hinges
The “lock-in-knob offers you privacy and convenience but it does not offer security from intruders. In fact many “lock-in-knob” locks can be opened by using a simple credit card. You may have privacy, but you don’t have security.
All exterior doors require the use of a deadbolt lock. When you turn the key the locking mechanism slides a strong metal bolt from the door into the door’s frame. When you buy a deadbolt lock, MAKE SURE (1) the bolt extends at least 1″ into the front edge of the door; (2) the strike plate is attached through the trim to the door frame with screws at least 3″ long, and (3) it has a rotation case hardened shroud that prevents it from being twisted off with a pair of pliers or other tools.
The two most common types of deadbolts:
Single Cylinder Deadbolts - Have a thumb turn on the interior side. They are convenient to use and may speed up the exit process in the event of fire. If used near a window they can be opened by breaking the window and reaching through. This type of deadbolt lock does not prevent the burglar from taking your property out through the door.
Double Cylinder Deadbolts - Utilize keys on both sides. This type of lock should be considered if there is glass window within 40″ of the lock. However, this type of lock does present a potential fire escape hazard. This type of deadbolt lock can delay a burglar that wants to use the door to remove your property from your home.
Keys
As many as half of all burglaries take place without forced entry. Many times the burglar uses a key. Be sure your keys don’t fall into the wrong hands. Never carry identification on your key ring or holder. Re-key all locks when you move into a new house or apartment. Know who has keys to your home. Do not give keys to maintenance or deliver people. If you must leave a key behind, leave it with a trusted neighbor. Make sure that each member of your family knows where his or her key is.
Never hide a key outside. Burglars know all the typical hiding places. Do not hang keys on hooks within plain view inside your home.
Strike Plate
The strike plate is attached to the door frame with screws. The metal bolt of the deadbolt lock slides into the strike plate to secure the door soundly to the door frame. A high security strike plate is required to keep the metal bolt from being kicked from the door frame when locked. A high security strike plate should have at least 4 screws that are a minimum of 3 inches long.
Hinges
Hinges are often installed with the same 3/4″ screws as the common strike plates. Replace these with 2″ to 3″ fully threaded screws so the hinges are anchored to the sub-frame. In some cases the hinges are installed in such a manner that the hinge pins are exposed to the exterior and an intruder may attempt to remove the pins in an effort to gain entry. Hinges can be pinned by installing a partially threaded screw into the frame side of the hinge. The unthreaded portion of the screw is left exposed and the head of the screw is cut off. A corresponding hole is drilled into the door and hinge on the opposite side, so when the door is closed the exposed portion of the screw fits in to the door. This will prevent the door from the being lifted out.
Sliding Glass Windows
People often install sturdy locks on their front doors but leave arcadia (sliding glass) doors and sliding glass windows “wide open” to illegal entry. Burglars look for both of these because they are easy to open. Usually, sliding doors and windows are more secluded than a front door, making a perfect place for burglars to hide and enter. Two factors must be protected against.
Prying the Lock
Most sliding doors and windows come equipped with a lock that is easily pried open. A supplemental lock must be installed. Broomsticks (they should fit snug), “Charlie bars” and finger operated locks provide some protection. Key locking devices are much preferred because they can prevent the burglars from using the door or window to remove stolen property. There are several types of supplemental locks available. Keyed locks may be keyed alike with other entry lock sets and deadbolts. Check with your locksmith or hardware store and select a sturdy type that most suits your home.
Lifting Out
Many sliding doors and windows can be lifted out of their tracks from the outside. Two sheet metal screws placed in the track above the removable part of the door or window can prevent it from being removed. Adjust the screws so that the doors or window will just clear underneath them. Drill a hole and insert a nail through the inside frame and part way through the metal door frame. You can remove the nail but the burglar can’t.
Security Alarms
Use your security system if you leave your house unattended for even a short period of time.
Home Inventory List
Keep a “Personal Property Inventory List” in a safe place, possibly with your insurance papers. This helps to recover stolen property in the event of a theft or burglary. Keep a duplicate copy in a safe deposit box or other safe place.
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Health and Safety Executive
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