Introduction

A burglary is reported every 15 seconds in the United States. Two out of every three burglaries were residential in nature and at least one home in twenty in the United States has been burglarized. Criminalists say that if all break-ins were reported, the number would be more like one in four. The average victim reportedly lost about $535, but all losses typically are not listed in police reports. Sixty-seven percent of all burglaries involve forcible entry, with over half (52%) occurring during the daylight hours. Fortunately, there has been a decline in burglary rates in recent years. Residential burglary, however, continues to be a serious problem.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics defines household burglary as "unlawful or forcible entry or attempted entry of a residence." The illegal entry may be made by force, such as breaking a window or slashing a screen, or may be without force by entering through an unlocked door or an open window. As long as the person entering has no legal right to be present in the structure a burglary has occurred. Furthermore, the structure need not be the house itself for a burglary to take place; illegal entry of a garage, shed, or any other structure on the premises also constitutes household burglary. If breaking and entering occurs in a hotel or vacation residence, it is still classified as a burglary for the household whose member(s) were staying there at the time the entry occurred.

The majority of residential burglaries -- about 85% -- are carried out by youthful amateurs, mostly males under 25 years of age, of normal intelligence, with a record of juvenile delinquency and a minimum of education. Most residential burglaries are crimes of opportunities. The burglars devote relatively little time to advance planning. If their advance checking and examination of the potential target reveals a risk greater than anticipated, they often move onto what they perceive to be a safer or easier target. Thus, the more the homeowner does to keep the home from looking like an easy target, the safer the home usually is. This chapter will provide crime prevention tips and recommendations homeowners can adopt to improve the safety and security of their residences.

Exterior

• Lighting
  It is a recognized fact that good lighting is a deterrent to crime. Lighting lets the homeowner see the pathway they take from their vehicle to the house. It permits them to see as they stop at the door to use their house keys. Effective lighting also forces the intruder to work in an area where he may be exposed and reported to the police.
• Around The House
  All sides of the home should be protected by security lighting that is located high out of reach and is vandal resistant. The best possible location for exterior residential lighting is under the eaves of the house. This makes ground-level assault more difficult. Such lighting should ideally be controlled by photo-electric cells that will activate them during times of darkness.
• Over Entry Doors
  Each door should be equipped with a light that provides quality illumination in the vicinity of the door, including both sides of the door and porch.
• Garages - Driveways
  Lighting around garages and driveways is critical. It is recommended to leave the light on, have the light on a timer, or have a light connected to a motion sensor or photo electric cell. This will also help to deter acts of vandalism against vehicles parked in your driveway.
  
• Light Controls
  Security lighting should be automatically controlled by photocell. Unfortunately, many exterior light fixtures are controlled by an interior switch which can be, and often is, turned off by an occupant or simply never turned on in the first place. Photocell bases which screw into the bulb socket are available at minimal cost. The bulb is the screwed into the photocell base. From that point on, the light will illuminate automatically as the sun goes down. To insure the light is not accidentally extinguished, a cover can be placed over the inside switch or the switch can simply be removed altogether.
• Motion Lighting
  Motion detection lighting is strongly encouraged, particularly in areas where lighting may be considered intrusive to neighbors. Costing less than $50.00, such units are often direct replacements for existing fixtures and can be selectively aimed to detect motion of an approaching intruder and cause the light to activate. This does two things: first, the sudden presence of the light startles the intruder, leaving him exposed to view; and second, the light provides a friendly means to light pathways as the homeowner returns in the evening. While there may be a concern that dogs, cats or birds will trigger the sensor and cause the lights to come on, if the resident sets the sensitivity of the sensor correctly, this should not be a problem.


• Landscaping And Plant Materials
  Bushes, trees and shrubbery can conceal an intruder as he attempts entry into a window or door; or worse yet, as he waits in hiding for the homeowner! A few alterations to the home's landscaping and plant materials can be enough to discourage intruders. To avoid being seen or caught, intruders look for property they can get into and out of quickly. Their ideal target is a house surrounded by large hedges or shrubs, which serve to hamper visibility from the street and neighbor's houses.
  Trim shrubbery and trees so doors and windows are visible to neighbors and from the street. Trimmed landscaping should not provide concealment for criminals. If the home has a second floor, prune trees so they can't help a thief climb in second floor windows. Place trellises where they can't be used as ladders to gain entry to upper floors.
  
  
• Limiting Access
  Intruders look for homes that have few or no obstacles blocking a quick exit. Fences can prevent burglars from carrying away large items if the gates are locked. Fence gates should be locked at all times, even when the owner is at home. Ladders and tools should be stored in a garage or storage shed, and these facilities should be locked.
  


• House Numbers
  House or street numbers on a home should be easily visible from the street. Critical time can be saved by emergency responders when the street address for the house is visible from a distance.
  
  
• Doors
  Doors are usually the burglars first choice of entry into a home. Believe it or not, some residents leave exterior doors unlocked . . . particularly children who may be the last to leave. In other entries, the burglar simply breaks a door or a side light and reaches around to unlock a door.
• The Door
  If an exterior door is equipped with glass within arm's length (about 40") of the door lock, break resistant polycarbonate glazing material (similar to plexiglass) attached to the inside of the door around the sides will provide considerable delay.
  
  
• Strike Plates
  The strike plate is attached to the door frame. The metal bolt of the door lock slides into the strike plate to secure the door to the door frame. Heavy duty strike plates, installed with long screws (ideally, at least 3"), offer good resistance against force. Strike plates and boxes should be installed with screws long enough to reach the stud behind the jamb.
  Replace weak strike plate with High Security Strike Plate. Fasten with long screws. This will also strengthen the frame system.
  Replace weak strike plate on wood frames with High Security Strike Box.
  
  
• Sliding Glass Doors
  Sliding glass doors (sometimes referred to as acacia doors) are easy for a burglar to enter if no remedial action is taken. Often, the door panels can simply be lifted out of the tracks. To deal with this problem, open the active door and install a number of wood screws in the track, allowing the screw to project down 3/8" to 1/2" or so. Slide the door closed, making sure the extended screws pass freely over the top rail of the door. Now try to lift the door from the track; upward movement should be stopped by the screws before the door can clear the bottom track
  Once the door has been secured from lifting, an auxiliary lock is needed because more than likely, the standard lock supplied with the door is nothing more than a small hook bolt that can easily be forced open. Locking bars (commonly called the "Charlie Bar") are ideal for this purpose; but a length of dowel -- an old broom or mop handle, for example -- can also be placed in the bottom track to keep the door from being pushed open. The dowel should be cut to a length so it fits snugly in the track between the wall and the door frame There are also a number of commercially produced locking devices for sliding glass doors. Those operated by keys are recommended for better security.
  
  
• Garage Doors
  The failure to close and lock the garage door often presents the most serious security problem in the home. This should always be emphasized to the homeowner. The following are a series of recommendations related to garage door security:
• The garage door should be locked at all times (even when the occupant is at home);
• Overhead track operated doors are best secured with electronic door openers. They should be of the type that can be disconnected from inside the garage in the event the home is unoccupied for long periods of time;
• The door leading from the garage into the home should be a solid wood or metal core door and should have a good quality deadbolt lock on it;
• If a garage door has a "doggie door," this can be a means of access for a burglar;
• Homeowners should be cautioned not to leave garage door openers in vehicles parked outside, as they can obviously be used for easy access into the garage.


• Locks
• Key-In-Knob Lock
  A key-in-knob lock offers privacy and convenience but does not offer security from intruders. They can be easily compromised by wrenching the knob with hands or vice grips, using credit cards or plastic to slip the spring bolt or by simply kicking open the door.
  
  
• Deadbolt Lock
  A deadbolt lock can provide good protection for an entry door. When the key is turned, the lock mechanism slides a strong metal bolt from the door into the frame. When purchasing a lock, the following points should be covered:
• The bolt should extend at least 1" from the front edge of the door (a 1" throw)
• The connecting screws that hold the lock together should be on the inside of the door.
• The strike plate should be attached to the door frame with screws that measure at least 3" in length.
• The cylinder should have a steel guard -- a ring around the key section. The cylinder guard should be tapered or rotate around the key section (if twisted) to prevent wrenching.
  
  
• Keys
  Improper attention to the issue of keys can lead to a burglary. The following are suggestions to better insure keys are properly controlled:
• When someone moves into a previously occupied home, all exterior doors should be rekeyed;
• Homeowners should keep their keys secured at all times. They should take their keys with them when they leave home and keep them in their pocket or purse;
• Keys should never be loaned, particularly where strangers are involved. House keys should be placed on a dual key ring that will permit easy separation from the car key. When keys are surrendered in connection with service or valet parking, only the car keys should be left.
• Keys and key rings should not be marked or identified in such a way so they can be switch functions on automobile and refrigerator doors.
• Alarms - Motion Detectors (Ultrasonic, Microwave)
  These devices are designed to detect motion within the specific area. They operate by filling an area with ultrasound or microwaves that are "observed" in a specific preset pattern. A person entering the pattern, in sustained motion, changes the pattern. This change triggers the alarm system.


• Controls and Annunciation
  Controls for an alarm system consist of a panel and a keypad into which a code number that arms or disarms the system is entered. Controls also perform other functions that allow flexibility in how and when an alarm system is armed or disarmed. The annunciation part of the system is the element that sounds the alert of the intrusion.



• Important Things To Look For In A Residential Alarm System
• An alarm system must have a reliable power supply. The most dependability is provided by a system that operates on household electric power, with emergency backup power provided by a battery to assure operation during power interruption. A rechargeable means of automatically reporting battery failure should be included.
• All components and installation methods should meet the requirements of all applicable local standards, regulations and codes.
• Upon installation of an alarm system, the homeowner should be thoroughly knowledgeable of what it does and what it does not do. They should be made familiar with all the details of operating the system and receive verbal as well as written instructions covering all possible circumstances involving the alarm system.

If There is a Death in the Family

Some burglars read obituaries and know people will be gone from the home during a funeral. If there is a death in the family, arrangements should be made for a house-sitter the day of the funeral.

Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that uses citizens, in cooperation with law enforcement, to reduce crime in their communities. It involves neighbors getting to know each other, taking the time to watch out for each other, and working together in a program of mutual assistance.

Neighborhood Watch is an effective means of reducing residential burglaries. By participating in Neighborhood Watch, the homeowner will learn:

• Effective crime prevention techniques for home safety and security.
• How to become law enforcement's "eyes and ears" and help them provide security to residential areas.
• How to report a crime: what to look for, how to describe an intruder, vehicle or activity and what additional information to give.

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