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