As we mentioned in last month's newsletter, 3 critical elements must be present for a crime to be committed:
- The DESIRE by the perpetrator to commit a crime,
- The ABILITY of the criminal to commit a crime,
- and the OPPORTUNITY for someone to commit the crime.
As homeowners, we don't have much control over the first two but we can certainly create a hindrance to crime by removing opportunity as much as possible.
Most home burglaries (where a crime is committed against property) occur between the hours of
9am and 5pm, and the majority of home invasions (where the intent is to break in and cause physical harm to the occupants of the home) happen between
6pm and 6am.
6,088 burglaries happen
EVERY DAY in the United States. That's a scary statistic you don't want to be a part of and studies show that these numbers are on the rise.
So what can you do to stop this happening to you?
There are
10 things you can do right now to "Target Harden" your property.
1)
Define the "outside line" of your property - this is known as "Perimeter Security". Create a physical barrier around your property by installing
fencing and
gates - these can be chain link, wood, block wall or wrought iron. Bear in mind that these items should not block visibility and all types require some kind of maintenance to remain effective over time. They provide an
impedance to entry but do not provide an absolute guarantee that an intruder cannot get in. Physical barriers are one of many "layers" of protection.
2)
Make sure landscaping doesn't give a potential intruder an advantage. Trim shrubbery away from windows, doorways, porches and all entries because poor landscaping such as overgrown shrubbery and other barriers provide concealment for burglars. Also, ensure any hedges are trimmed so that they are separated to reduce the likelihood that a person is able to hide behind them. You should also make sure that your house address (the name or number) is easily visible from the street so that in the event of an emergency, law enforcement can easily find your house.
3)
Exterior lighting on doors, windows, walkways and backyards is a necessity as this has been proven to be the one deterrent that can prevent property crime at night. Be sure to use a timer or be vigilant about turning off lights during the day. Lights left on day and night can be a sign that nobody is home. Lights turning on and off during the early evening hours makes it look like you're home and creates the idea in the criminal's mind that your house is not to be targeted if an easier mark is close by.
4)
Keep garages closed! A high percentage of break ins are considered "no forced entry" due to garage break ins. Consider double-keyed deadbolts on both the service door and door leading into the home. If an intruder does manage to get into your garage not only will they be blocked from entering your home but once inside it makes it more difficult for them to use the garage doors as the "exit point" to carry off your valuables. You can also install a
security screen door on the service door for an extra layer of protection. When you are going to be gone from your home for an extended period, unplug the garage door opener and padlock it on the side. Our
safety seminars shows you some great methods of extra security you can use on your garage door and some of them are illustrated in the video below.
5)
Exterior doors should be well constructed of either metal (which gives maximum security) or wood (medium security). According to the FBI every 12 seconds a home invasion occurs by someone going right through the front or back door. One of the easiest ways for someone to break into your home is to just kick in the door! In fact, they come right through the door over 70% of the time - and 80% of the time the door FRAME fails - not the locks like most people believe! The most important part of a lock is the strike area. Our
security seminars will show you how to beef up the security on all your external doors by replacing screws for longer ones in various places and installing additional hardware such as peepholes and
security screen doors. Security screen doors increase the security at the exterior doors by reducing the chances of the door being the "point of entry" for burglars. They also carry the added bonus of reducing visibility to see inside the home, adding curb appeal and providing ventilation to the interior. First Impression custom designs and manufactures MANY
decorative models to avoid the "like a prison" look and feel.
6)
Windows should be locked from the interior using methods best suited to your window type. You can also apply
security film - either plain or tinted, window alarms, or
decorative window guards which should have quick release devices to allow them to be immediately opened from the interior in an emergency.
7)
Secure your sliding doors by making sure that a pin lock is installed into the frame correctly when you leave the house (and at night), and use a window lock or wooden dowel to prevent the door from being slid off its tracks by a burglar trying to gain entry. Backyard sliding doors are one of the most common entry points for intruders so consider installing fixed hinge
Arcadia/Patio security screen doors on your sliding doors which can be made to compliment your home's front door and, like all of our other screen doors, these doors provide additional ventilation.
8)
Lock up all your backyard property in a shed or by using locks for bicycles. Installing motion sensor lighting is a great way to deter crooks from choosing your backyard as their next target. Secure tools which could be used to enter your home away from prying eyes, and keep ladders and other objects which could be used to gain entry put away out of reach.
9)
Avoid becoming the victim of identity theft and shred important discarded documents using a personal shredder or by taking them to shredding events. You should always use the blue mail boxes or post office mail boxes to send mail because these are tamper proof. You can also have your personal items engraved with a driver license number or other identifier so that stolen items can be easily identified if a criminal tries to pawn them, and they can possibly be returned to you in the event they are stolen. Take
pictures or video of valuables and store them in a safe or other safe place along with important documents such as birth certificates, passports and stock certificates.
10)
Complete a Residential Security Survey available
on our website, or through local law enforcement which asks security questions about your home and possessions which will help you determine what you need to do to improve your home's security.
