Neighborhood Awareness

Acquaint yourself with your neighborhood and neighbors. Familiarize yourself with your neighbor’s cars and observe their lifestyles. Is your neighbor home during the day? Do they utilize landscapers, etc.

Communicate

Talk with your neighbors. Learn when each of you will be on vacation, having visitors, if contractors will be working on your homes, etc. Keep an eye on each others homes during vacations, and at other times when you will not be at home.

Security

When you leave your home, try to make it appear that the house is occupied. This is probably the best way to discourage a burglar from targeting your home. Most burglars prefer to enter a house while no one is home, and want to avoid confrontations with the homeowner. In fact, one of the reasons that the crime of burglary is difficult for police to solve, is that the burglar is usually not seen.

Check the following list for easy tips on making your home less inviting to a burglar.

Appearance
* Prune shrubbery that hides windows or doors
* Make sure that all entrances, porches, and yards are well lighted.
Use timers for interior and exterior lights.
* Do not leave ladders, tools, etc. accessible
* Look at your home and others at dusk and after dark. Make your home
Appear as though you are home. Adjust the blinds or shades, and
Lighting accordingly.

Doors
* Sold wood or metal doors with good quality locks provide the best
security
* Use dead bolt locks. The bolt should extend at least 1" from the edge
of the door
* Attach strike plate to the door frame with minimum of 3" long screws
* Doors with glass; use a double key (inside and outside) to prevent the
burglar from breaking the glass, reaching in, and opening the lock
LEAVE KEY IN LOCK WHEN HOME TO ENSURE EASY EXIT IN
CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY
* Treat interior garage doors and basement doors like an exterior door
* Sliding patio doors: Use security bars for added security

Windows
* Maintain in good condition so that they cannot be easily shifted out of
place
* Keep them locked
*Windows can be drilled to insert pins, and additional locks can be
installed. REMEMBER: WHATEVER MEANS YOU USE, MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE EASY ACCESS IN CASE OF FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY.
* Particular attention should be given to securing basement windows

There are countless crime prevention devices available today, and certainly some have merit. You can purchase alarm systems, safes for valuable and you can hunt for hiding places within your home. Purchase what you think is prudent and with in your budget, but don’t make yourself a prisoner. A little common sense and awareness will certainly decrease the likelihood that you will become a victim. A concerted effort between the community and the Police Department can go a long way to insuring that your town remains a safe and desirable place to live.

Vacation Check List

* Have good locks on all doors and windows, and USE THEM

* Ask a neighbor to watch the house while you are away. Think about leaving your vacation address and/or phone number with them so that you can be reached in case of an emergency

* Call the Police Department with your vacation dates, emergency numbers, cars that will be left at home, etc.

* Stop all deliveries, or arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail, newspapers and packages.

* Arrange for someone to mow your lawn, rake your leaves, or shovel your snow to give the home a “lived in” look

* Use timers to run on interior and exterior lights to disguise the fact that you’re away

* Don’t announce you absence on answering machines

* Leave your blinds, shades, and curtain in a normal position

* Close and lock garage doors, sheds, and gates

* Hide your valuables in some location OTHER THAN THE MASTER BEDROOM. That is the first place burglars will target