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Carencro Police
Tips for Securing Your Home |
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 gain; and the maximum
potential for escape. They're looking for homes which appear
unoccupied and unprotected; homes without adequate locks and lighting;
open or unlocked doors and windows; and home sites which provide easy
concealment from neighbors and passing motorists.
Unfortunately, the burglar doesn't need to look
around very long to discover "Welcome Burglar" signs unwittingly left
around many homes. It is even more unfortunate when you realize that
all it takes to make your home less inviting to a burglar is a little
common sense and several easy, effective and inexpensive crime
prevention measures. By following the suggestions in this brochure you
can decrease your chances of becoming a burglary victim.
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Survey Your Home |
Look at your home through a burglar's eyes. Does it look like an easy
target? Are there obvious security weaknesses?
* Shrubbery should not obscure doors and windows. Trim the growth so
that a burglar cannot work undetected.
* At night leave a few lights burning outside your home. Lights over
doorways and garages, and strategically placed floodlights will make
your home less inviting to a burglar.
* Windows and doors should be securely locked. Inadequate locks should
be replaced or supplemented.
* Make your home look occupied at all times.
* Common sense is all that is needed to identify most security
weaknesses around your home.
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What is a Good
Lock? |
Crime Prevention experts recommend deadbolt locks to provide the
security needed for exterior doors. The bolt should extend at least
one inch into the door frame to provide adequate security.
Many homes are equipped with spring-latch door locks. Most
spring-latch locks can be easily jimmied by even the most
inexperienced burglar. Replace or supplement any spring-latch locks
with a good deadbolt lock.
Other good security locks such as the jimmy-resistant rim lock are
available.
When you move into a new home, or if you lose your house keys, contact
a locksmith to change the tumblers inside the lock. The change can be
done quickly and inexpensively, and it makes the old or lost keys
useless.
Don't forget to lock up. Even the best locks provide no protection if
left unlocked. Securely lock your home even if you plan to be away for
only minutes.
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Secure Doors and
Windows |
Wooden exterior doors have
either Solid Core or Hollow Core construction. Solid Core Doors
provide the greatest security. They are able to withstand attacks by
burglars, and are best suited for installation of good locks.
If an exterior door contains a glass panel or is near a window, you
should install a double-cylinder deadbolt lock which requires a key to
unlock it from either side of the door. This lock will prevent a
burglar from reaching inside to unlock the door after breaking the
glass.
Doors which swing open to the outside have exposed hinges in easy
reach of the burglar. These doors can be secured by the "hinge
pinning" technique:
* Remove opposing screws from both sides of each hinge plate.
* Insert pin into hole on door FRAME, leaving a 1/2 inch protrusion.
* Drill out opposing hold to fit pin when door is closed.
Open garage doors attract burglars. Make a habit of keeping garage
doors closed and locked, an open garage door with no car in sight is a
clear invitation to a burglar, especially if the garage is used to
store such items as bicycles, power mowers, garden tools, and other
easily stolen property.
Sliding glass doors are particularly vulnerable to attacks by
burglars. The "pinning" technique mentioned above will prevent the
lock from being forced or the door from being lifted from the track.
Key-operated pins or grips are a preferred method of securing sliding
glass doors.
* With door closed, drill hole (angle downward) through top and bottom
corners of inner frame, partially into outer frame.
* Insert pin or nail.
Windows are another common entry point for burglars. Double-hung
windows can be easily and inexpensively secured by using the "pinning'
technique.
* With windows closed, drill hole (angle downward) through top corners
of inner frame, partially into outer frame.
* Insert pin or nail.
Good security for windows is provided by key-operated window locks,
especially when used as auxiliaries to conventional window locks.
Remember, an open or unlocked window or door invites burglars.
© 2006 - Carencro Police Department |
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