Burglary Prevention

Burglary Prevention Tips

HPD Burglary Prevention Manual	Where Thieves Gain Entry (courtesy of the Washington Post)
Day & Time for Residential Burglaries
Residential Burglaries Map

o protect your home from burglars, consider these prevention tips from the National Crime Prevention Council:

Kick-Proof your door, your jamb is the weak point that will most likely fail when the door is kicked. Use a 1 inch deadbolt and reinforced metal strike box to keep the jamb from splintering when kicked

All exterior doors should have heavy-duty metal security strike plates secured by 3-inch screws (do not use drywall screws).

Install reliable locks on all external doors.

Invest in storm doors. Locks on these doors can add an extra layer of security to your home, which can deter potential burglars from attempting to enter your home unauthorized. Storm doors are also valuable if you want to protect your home from inclement weather and provide more insulation for your home during both the summer and winter months.

Stick a broomstick or dowel rod in the track of sliding glass doors.

Drill a hole through the slide door frame and fixed frame of sliding glass doors, and insert a pin in the hole. This can prevent someone from lifting the door off its track.

Use key locks for double-hung windows. Or, drill a small hole at a 45- degree angle between the inner and outer frames and insert a nail that can be removed.

An unsecured garage door presents an opportunity for a burglar to enter your property if your garage is attached to the home, or to find tools to assist him. Cover garage windows with frosted contact paper. Sunlight can come in, but no one will be able to see inside.

Install motion-sensitive lights outside or lights with photo cells that will turn on when it’s dark and off when it’s light.

Remove your last name from your mailbox. That way someone can’t look up your name in the phone book and call to see if you’re home.

Prune or remove bushes around doors and windows. Cut tree limbs that could be climbed to enter a window.

Install gravel paths near bedroom windows. The sound of footsteps on gravel may alert you to a prowler

Planting spiny or thorny plants along fences and under windows can discourage possible burglars.

Park a vehicle in the driveway. Not only will your house look occupied, but a burglar also won’t be able to back up and load a van.

Get a dog. You don't need a large attack dog, even a small dog creates a disturbance that burglars would prefer to avoid. Remember to License and Vaccinate it.

Invest in an alarm system from a reputable company.

Keep all doors locked, even when you’re at home. Keep garage doors down and locked, too.

Give an extra key to a neighbor you trust. Avoid hiding spare keys outside the house. If you can “break in” to your own home, someone else can, too!

When you travel, ask a friend to pick up your mail and newspapers or ask the post office to hold your mail.

Use timers to turn lights on and off in different areas of your home while you’re gone.

Check that valuables such as expensive furniture, stereo equipment, paintings or coin collections aren’t visible from outside windows.

Take pictures of your valuables and write down their serial numbers and a description of them.

Make sure your telephone and answering machine can’t be heard outside. Record an answering machine message that says you’re unavailable to take the call rather than not at home.

Think like a burglar. "Case" your home the way a burglar would and look for easy ways to enter your home.