Install strong locks on doors and windows – and lock up when you leave
• In one-quarter of all burglaries there was no sign of forced entry – burglars just walked in!
• Burglars look for the easiest target – they want to get in and out quickly. Breaching a lock takes time, so locks deter burglars.
• Install deadlocks on all external doors and keyed locks on all windows; lock up when you leave, even if only for a few minutes. (But remember: don’t engage the deadlocks while you’re in the house – this may be hazardous in the event of a fire.)
• Security screens allow you to look out but prevent intruders from seeing in. A good quality screen door can put a locked barrier between you and a stranger.
When you’re not at home, make it look like somebody’s there
• Burglars seek out empty houses because there’s less chance they’ll get caught. Here’s how to fool them:
o Leave a radio tuned to a talkback station.
o If you’re out for the evening, leave some lights on and close the curtains.
o If you’re going on holiday:
– cancel your newspaper;
– have a trusted neighbor or relative empty your letterbox and take your bin out (even if it’s empty!) and in again;
o Hang some old clothes on the line;
o Leave old shoes outside the front door;
o Divert your home phone number to your mobile;
o Organize a house-sitter if you’re away for an extended period of time.
Never let people know when your home will be empty – don’t let burglars “book you in”
• Avoid giving away information in person, in writing or through your answering machine message.
• Avoid leaving invitations or notes about holidays in plain view (stuck on the fridge, next to the phone, up on a whiteboard). This advertises when your house will be empty. While most trades people are above board, a shady few might pass this information on to professional burglars or be burglars themselves.
• On your answering machine say “We can’t come to the phone right now” rather than “I’m on holidays and will be back on”.
• If you live alone, say “We can’t come to the phone right now” rather than “I can’t come to the phone right now”. Burglars may feel less threatened if there is only a chance of one person being home.
Avoid advertising your expensive purchases
• Boxes left on the curb let burglars know what’s new in your house (DVD player, computer, etc). Cut boxes into pieces before recycling.
Don’t let burglars use your spare key
• No matter how good a hiding place it seems, burglars will always look for hidden keys – so leave keys with a trusted neighbor or friend instead.
Use “natural surveillance” to protect your home – don’t give burglars somewhere to hide
• A low fence or one which can be seen through lets your neighbors spot something that’s out of place, like a stranger in your garden. (A high fence that can’t be seen through seems like good protection – but once the burglar is behind that, they’re hidden from view.)
• Keep trees and shrubs trimmed low.
• Motion-activated lighting puts a spotlight on burglars. If they think they’ve been spotted, they’ll bolt.
Mark your property
• Marked property is much harder for burglars to re-sell – and even if a burglar steals a marked item, it’s much easier for you to identify what’s yours.
• Mark your property using an engraving pen (available from selected hardware stores) or ultra-violet markers
• Put your license plate number on your property. Even if you get new plates later, that number will still be in the police system and will be a somewhat random yet unique number that belongs to you.
Make a list of your property
• Keep a list of your CDs, DVDs, videos and any other collectible items in a safe place (a list on your computer is no good if the burglars steal that too!).
• Take photos of expensive items, such as jewelry.
• Fill in a “Property Inventory Form” (available through Neighborhood Watch) to help police return your property to you.
• Make sure you have current and adequate insurance cover.
Lock up your tools and your shed
• There have been increased reports of property being stolen from gardens and sheds. Don’t let a burglar steal your tools or use them to break into your own house!
• Always put away your tools and lock your shed.
Consider getting a four-legged “burglar alarm”
• Barking dogs warn people that something’s wrong, so burglars avoid homes with dogs.
• If you don’t own a dog, a “beware of dog” sign may still deter a burglar.
Consider installing a burglar alarm
• The alarm systems that are most likely to deter a burglar are those which:
o are highly visible (e.g., metal box on the front of the house);
o emit a loud noise when activated; and
o transmit an immediate signal to a security service.
And report all suspicious activity around your home to the police.
This is a public service message from the Frazeysburg Police Department to help us prevent crimes in our community, and help you protect your property. If you have any questions, please call (740) 828-2911.