- Home
- Departments
- Police Department
- Safety & Security
- Home Break-Ins
Home Break-Ins
Residential Burglary Prevention
Burglary victims often feel vulnerable and violated as their personal space has been invaded. Residential burglaries statistically occur during the day while families are at work or school. The most common entry technique is a hard kick to the door, forcing wooden jams to give way. Household tools like hammers, screwdrivers, pry bars and pliers may be used to
gain entry into your home.
Unfortunately, it is hard to catch burglars in the act. While residential burglaries seem random in nature, there is a simple selection process. Unoccupied homes with easy or concealed access and quick escape routes are targeted. Once inside, burglars look for small expensive items that are easily traded for cash. Favorite items include cash, jewelry, laptops, CD/DVD players, game consoles, watches, guns, and small electronic devices. Protect yourself and make your home a less likely target with the following ideas:
Bright Ideas
Install lights by all exterior doors. Use lights all night.
Install outside light fixtures where bulbs are hard to reach.
Illuminate house numbers for quick emergency response.
Trim shrubs back from doors and windows. Don’t give burglars a place to hide.
Vehicle Smarts
Close the garage door and cover windows so no one can see inside.
Leave only the ignition key with parking lot attendants - if required.
Hide the garage door opener from open view in your car.
Doors & Windows
Change the locks when moving into a new residence.
Always lock your doors and windows.
Give your neighbor the spare key - Don’t hide it outside.
Use solid core or metal exterior doors.
Install four-screw strike plates with three-inch screws to penetrate the wood door frame.
Use dead bolt door locks on exterior doors and double-cylinder dead bold locks if glass is within 3 feet of the lock.
Add auxiliary track-type locks, removable drop bars, wooden dowels, or pinning devices to windows and sliding glass doors.
Install Peepholes on doors with 160 degree views.
Upgrade locks to defeat bump keying.
Landscaping
Trim tree branches 6 feet off the ground
Prune shrubs to under 2 feet from the ground
Use motion sensors and photocells on exterior floodlights
Personal Information
Keep valuables in a safe deposit box or locked safe
It is recommended that you engrave your Driver's License number in an obvious place on your valuable property. (Example: NE H012345678.) This enables the police to identify your property. In addition, it acts as a deterrent to a burglar, as most burglars do not like to take engraved items.
If you own property that cannot be engraved, you should photograph each item individually. On the back of each photograph write a description, the date of purchase, and the serial number. It is strongly recommended that you keep an inventory list of all your property, listing serial numbers, when applicable.
Dealing with Strangers
Never let strangers into your home
Verify workers by ID cards and/or calling their employer
Never give keys to workers
Never leave notes for anyone on the door
While on Vacation
Hire a house sitter
Ask neighbors to help with your trash bins and newspaper
Park a vehicle, even a neighbors car, in your driveway
Use timers on indoor lights to give the impression you are home
Deliver merchandise to your neighbor's house
Ask neighbors to watch your house while you are gone
Contact our office to place your house on Vacation House Watch