Steps to help avoid home burglary
Steps to help avoid home burglary
By: Jim Richards
Topics: HELP FIGHT CRIME!
Posted by jimr Fri Feb 9, 2007 13:46:44 PST
Viewed 1013 times
0 responses 3 comments
Take steps to keep your home safe from burglars
One common fear of every homeowner is the fear of someone breaking and entering into your home. It is an act that not only results in damage and loss to your property, but leaves you with feelings of violation and fear. Don't be a victim; take steps to prevent your house from being burglarized.
First of all, you would do very well to install a monitored security alarm in your residence. This is one of the most effective ways of keeping burglars out of your home. If you want to ensure the effectivity of the alarm system, also make sure that your alarm system is clearly indicated to anyone who approaches your house. Most security firms provide you with yard signs and window and door stickers. The security system must also be wired to make a loud noise if triggered, and at the same time send an alert message to a local security service. This security service has the job of monitoring your home security and it will respond if your alarm has been activated.
Even with an alarm system, it is important to take the usual precautions. You should make a conscious effort to develop the habit of locking your doors every time you leave the house or go to bed. And even when you are home! And you should install locks on all of your windows, even those located on upper floor levels. If you go away on a trip, you want to be secure that your house is tightly locked up.
Do not rely on regular locks on any of the doors leading to the outside. Be sure these doors are fitted with keyed deadlocks as well as being hooked up to your alarm system. By installing a deadlock, you will make a burglary much harder for a potential thief, and most likely prevent them from stealing large items such as television sets. Make sure that external doors are very strong as well. Solid wood is the best material for an external door. Install a peephole in your front door and install a steel mesh screen door with a lock on it. This will put an extra barrier between you and anyone who approaches your front door. You should be aware that sliding glass doors are a potential weak spot for entry. If you do have sliding doors, you can install patio bolts on them.
Don't leave a spare key in a hiding place outside your door. It is very likely that a burglar will be able to find it. A better idea would be to leave your extra keys with a trusted friend or neighbor.
Taking these small precautions will help you avoid becoming a victim of burglary. The important thing is to be pro-active. Don't wait for something to happen, but take measures in the here and now to ensure your home safety in the future.
First of all, you would do very well to install a monitored security alarm in your residence. This is one of the most effective ways of keeping burglars out of your home. If you want to ensure the effectivity of the alarm system, also make sure that your alarm system is clearly indicated to anyone who approaches your house. Most security firms provide you with yard signs and window and door stickers. The security system must also be wired to make a loud noise if triggered, and at the same time send an alert message to a local security service. This security service has the job of monitoring your home security and it will respond if your alarm has been activated.
Even with an alarm system, it is important to take the usual precautions. You should make a conscious effort to develop the habit of locking your doors every time you leave the house or go to bed. And even when you are home! And you should install locks on all of your windows, even those located on upper floor levels. If you go away on a trip, you want to be secure that your house is tightly locked up.
Do not rely on regular locks on any of the doors leading to the outside. Be sure these doors are fitted with keyed deadlocks as well as being hooked up to your alarm system. By installing a deadlock, you will make a burglary much harder for a potential thief, and most likely prevent them from stealing large items such as television sets. Make sure that external doors are very strong as well. Solid wood is the best material for an external door. Install a peephole in your front door and install a steel mesh screen door with a lock on it. This will put an extra barrier between you and anyone who approaches your front door. You should be aware that sliding glass doors are a potential weak spot for entry. If you do have sliding doors, you can install patio bolts on them.
Don't leave a spare key in a hiding place outside your door. It is very likely that a burglar will be able to find it. A better idea would be to leave your extra keys with a trusted friend or neighbor.
Taking these small precautions will help you avoid becoming a victim of burglary. The important thing is to be pro-active. Don't wait for something to happen, but take measures in the here and now to ensure your home safety in the future.
With the increase in general population in Tehachapi comes a commensurate increase in crime. We citizens need to be the eyes and ears of the police. They can't be everywhere, all the time, but we can...and are!
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Fri Feb 9, 2007 14:43:41 PST
My neighbor across the street and I came up with a good idea. We each leave an extra key outside, but my key is outside her house, and her key is outside mine! It seems that when one is locked out, it is more often at an inconvenient time, ie., late at night, or when no one is home at the neighbors' for you to get your key from. This way, we always have access to our extra keys, but they won't afford potential burglars an easy entry.
Wed Feb 14, 2007 02:05:11 PST
This is a great post. I must have missed it before but I'm glad you pointed it out. Just last week some friends who live less than a block away noticed that someone had come into their home while they were away and taken several easy to take items such as jewelry, an ipod, and a palm pilot. They have lived there for at 15 years and never had to worry about things like this until this new "breed" of people came to town (or grew-up). I do have a home alarm system and am so glad that I do.
Fri Feb 16, 2007 11:42:02 PST
Glad to see some new comments to my post. Charlee weighed in within an hour and that was it! I was disappointed..until now. If people want more of this kind of proactive crime prevention information, I will be happy to post it for everyone to print out and save. With the increase in population in Tehachapi comes a commensurate increase in crime. As I told the City Council at the last mneeting, "this is not the sleepy, little, charming, mountain village it was when some of you were growing up here 30, 40 or 50 years ago and if you want to stick your heads in the sand and pretend that it is, go ahead, but I'm not going with you." Crime, gangs, tagging, graffiti; burglary are all on the increase. Los Angeles, kicked their undesirables north to Lancaster. Now, Lancaster is on the move to kick them out as well. Guess where they're going to go from Lancaster?
