|
WHAT TO
DO BEFORE THE BURGLAR COMES
"How
can I reduce the risk of my vehicle being stolen?"
Mail Theft
 WHAT
TO DO BEFORE THE BURGLAR COMES
Not if the
burglar comes, but when. Because, say the statistics, the burglar
is coming. Down your street. And looking for easy targets.
Burglars look for
easy targets because they're not professionals, as a rule. They're
amateurs . . . looking for easy targets. Enough easy targets to make
residential burglary one of the fastest growing crimes in recent years.
This information is
designed to help you avoid making your home look like an easy target.
There are simple, basic security measures that will make your home less
inviting and, in so doing, cause the burglar to look elsewhere for an
easier target.
Make
your home look (and sound) occupied
By day, leave drapes
and shades in normal position - the way you have them when at home.
(Don't leave easily moveable valuables in sight close to windows.)
At night, leave on
some inner lights - bathrooms and hallways for example. Consider buying
automatic timers that turn lamps on after dark, then off a few hours
later or at dawn. These times can turn a radio on too, so your home
sounds occupied.
Never leave garage
doors open - especially with no car in sight. This is like a WELCOME sign
to burglars. And closing garage doors is something to do every time you
leave - even if only for a few minutes. When leaving for longer periods,
don't forget to remove easily stolen objects like a power mower, garden
hose, lawn chairs, bicycles and the like from your yard and keep them
safely locked up.
Be a
good neighbor
Keep an eye on your
neighbors homes, get them to do the same for you.
If you see something
suspicious - movement inside when a home should be empty . . . a strange
car or truck in the driveway . . . a loiterer - call your local law
enforcement agency immediately. Make a reasonable effort to get a good
description and license number - without endangering yourself. Burglars
have been known to use a truck and openly carry off valuable possessions.
If neighbors haven't mentioned moving, be suspicious. Police would rather
you called than wished you'd called.
Install
good locks. . . and lock them!
Many homes are
guarded only by spring-latch door locks. (Also, older doors and frames
may have become worn, leaving a pronounced gap that allows easier prying.
So be sure to check them too.) There is one lock which crime prevention
experts recommend. It is a deadbolt lock with a one-inch thrown. This
type of lock provides better security than what many homes now have. You
can get more information from your crime prevention officer, locksmith or
hardware dealer.
Besides good locks,
it is also a good idea to have a one-way peep-hole in your front door so
you can find out who's outside without opening your door to a possibly
dangerous stranger. Such viewers are inexpensive and easy to install.
They are much better than chain latches which are easy to force loose.
Be sure locks are
firmly screwed into solid wood - not just into a light door jamb. The
longer screws and the longer the lock bolt, the safer your home will be.
(The screws which come in many packages are too short for good security.)
For windows, install
window locks. They're inexpensive and provide some extra security.
Another idea is to get wedge devices that prevent windows from being
opened, or allow you to open them an inch or two for ventilation but
prevent opening them wider. Sliding glass doors are a special problem
because they can be forced open sideways or simply popped out of the
track. There are various inexpensive items such as a Charlie bar or supplemental
locks, which will give you better protection. Again, check with your
crime prevention officer, locksmith or hardware dealer.
The best lock in the
world is worthless if it isn't locked. Always lock up - even if you're
away from the home only minutes. Houses have been cleaned out while the
owner was mowing the lawn or visiting a neighbor. Remember, a lock is not
a lock unless you lock it.
Change
locks at the drop of a threat
Any licensed locksmith
can change the tumblers in your outside door locks quickly and
inexpensively. So when you move into a home or apartment have it done. If
you lose a key . . . change the lock tumblers.
Don't be generous in
passing around extra keys. One might end up in the hands of someone you
don't trust. Don't leave an "emergency" key under the door mat,
on top of the door frame, or in any other "hiding spot" so
well-known to burglars.
Keep car keys and
house keys separate. This way your house keys are never left in the
possession of a stranger when you park your car at a garage or parking
lot.
Never have a name or
license tag attached to your house keys. If keys are lost or stolen
you'll have an unwelcome visitor very quickly.
Don't
welcome burglars by telephone!
Burglars often try to
find out if anyone is home by phoning. If you get several suspicious
"wrong number" calls or "nobody-at-the-other-end"
calls, tell the police. Warn family members, especially children, to give
out no information by phone - especially about who is home, who is out,
how long anyone is expected to be out.
Make it harder for
burglars to "case" your home by phone by avoiding names on
mailboxes or on doors. Your name on display only makes it easier for the
burglar to look your name up in the directory.
Don't
open your door to anyone with no business inside.
This isn't just to
guard against robbery by force or threat of force; sometimes burglars who
have no intention of using force will first try to get in under some pretext
so they can scout out valuables and study locks, windows and other means
of entry. Ask repair people and others who claim to have business inside
to show positive identification, and keep the door closed while you study
the identification through the peephole. If you have the slightest doubt,
telephone their supervisors back at work, getting the number from your
directory. If you wish to help a lost or stranded motorist, you make the
call while he or she waits outside.
When you do admit a
worker or a salesperson you were expecting, do not leave them alone at
any time.
Don't
reward the burglar who does get in.
If, despite your
precautions, a burglar does get into your home, don't offer a
"bonus" of cash or easily-carried jewelry. Never keep large
sums of cash around the house. Keep valuable jewelry that you don't often
use in a safe deposit box.
Alarms
Keep a dog at your
house if you can. Your dog needn't be big or ferocious. If the dog makes
noise (and most dogs will) that's enough to cause a burglar to look for
easier - and quieter - pickings.
If you can afford it,
you might consider a good alarm system, but buy only from reputable,
established dealers, and ask for references.
Local crime
prevention officers can't recommend specific brands or companies, but
they can provide general information on types of alarm systems.
Don't
advertise your vacation plans.
Try to keep your home
looking "lived in" while you're away, even if its only for the
weekend. So ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the place and to
pick up papers and mail. The neighbor, or an inexpensive electric timer,
can turn your lights off and on. Also arrange to have your lawn mowed or
walks shoveled. And don't have any publicity about your trip until after
you're back.
Tell
police
If you'll be away
from your home for an extended time, tell your law enforcement agency.
No, they won't put a guard at your door - no police system in the country
has enough staff to do that. But, they will take runs past your home from
time to time, alert for signs of suspicious activity. And every extra
precaution helps.
Join
Operation Identification
Operation
identification has effectively reduced burglary wherever it has been
properly implemented. Your valuable property is marked with your driver's
license number and a window sticker warns would-be burglars of the risk
of entering your home. Call your police or sheriff about Operation
Identification.
Will these
precautions, the tips give here, guarantee your home to be burglar safe?
No, short of making your home into an armed fortress, there's no way to
do that. But these basic security precautions will make your home less
inviting as a target and that's the whole idea. So share them with
friends and neighbors.
"How
can I reduce the risk of my vehicle being stolen?"
Over 1 million
vehicles are stolen every year. In 1990 alone, more than 1.6 million vehicles
were stolen - at an estimated national cost of over eight billion
dollars.
In the time it takes
you to read this pamphlet, nine cars will be stolen!
Don't make it easy
for professional thieves or joyriders to take your wheels.
Protect
your vehicle
- Lock your car and pocket
the key when you leave - even if just for a minute. Close windows
all the way and make sure the trunk is locked.
- Control your keys. Never
leave an identification tag on your key ring. If your keys are lost
or stolen, it could help a thief locate your car and burglarize your
home.
- Don't leave registration
inside your vehicle; carry it with you. Important identification
papers or credit cards should never be left in the glove
compartment.
- If carrying packages or
valuable items, store them in your trunk if possible. If you do
leave packages, clothing or other articles in the car, make sure
they are out of sight.
- Park in well-lit, busy
areas. Avoid leaving your vehicle in unattended parking lots for
long periods of time. If you park in a lot where you must leave a
key, leave the ignition key only, to protect items in trunk or glove
box.
- When buying a car, ask
about anti-theft options such as steering column locks, alarms,
switches that interrupt the fuel or electronic systems, and locks for
tape decks, batteries and gas tanks. May insurance companies offer
reduced rates to owners who install security devices.
- Keep your car's Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) and a complete description in a safe
place at home. Since 1969, the federal government has required
manufacturers to engrave a unique number, the VIN, on all passenger
cars in one visible and several hidden locations. One VIN is
engraved on a metal plated on the dashboard near the windshield.
VINs of stolen cars are registered with the FBI's National Crime
Information Center.
Bicycles,
motorcycles and trail bikes
- Park out of sight in a
garage or basement, or use a cover.
- Engrave with an Operation
Identification number recommended by local law enforcement.
- Lock all bicycles with a case-hardened
chain or cable and lock, winding the cable through the frame and
both wheels and then around a fixed object.
- Use the fork lock found
on most street motorcycles. For extra protection of your bicycle or
motorcycle, invest in a heavy U-shaped lock made of extremely hard
steel that can not be hacksawed, or a case-hardened chain and a
sturdy padlock.
- Watch out for key
numbers! Some motorcycle manufacturers stamp the key number on the
lock. With this number, anyone can go to a key maker and have a key
cut that will fit perfectly. Many key makers ask for identification,
but don't take chances - write down your number, store the number in
a safe place, and then file it off the lock.
Mail Theft
- Pick up mail from box on a daily basis, as close to the time it is delievered as possible.
- Invest in a locking mailbox. Gather your neighbors together and do it as a group.
- Have financially sensitive (or all) mail sent to a post office box.
- Call 911 to report any suspicious activity.
|
