I want to reissue this post on how to prevent home burglaries. Property crimes throughout the nation are on the rise. One of the interesting notes in many of these burglaries is the fact that many of these homes had alarm systems which the owners did not activate before they left the home. This brings to mind the fact that this is a good time to remind everyone on some simple steps you can take to prevent burglaries at your home.
- Make your home look occupied, leaving TV or radio on works, and make it difficult to break into.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
- Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day. Use motion detector lights outside.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or fliers to build up while you are away. Arrange with the post office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
- Push-button locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Know who belongs or does not belong in your neighborhood. If someone looks suspicious, call the police to have them checked out.
- Keep your yard clean and bushes and trees trimmed. You don't want to give burglars a place to hide or remain concealed as they come in and out of your yard. Plant Cactus or yucca around vulnerable windows.
- If you have an alarm system, use it, even if you are only leaving for a short time. While they may not prevent burglary's they do reduce the amount of items taken and many times when the alarm goes off the burglar will leave with out taking anything. Whether you have an alarm system or not buy signs that say you have an alarm and place them around your home.
- Call the sheriff's office to get involved in or start a nieghborhood watch program in your area. 505-986-2402
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6 comments:
Thanks for the tips. Our community is having a debate: Is it safer to have cars parked in the driveway or to keep them in the garage?
We would appreciate your comments.
That is an interesting question. I can see how having the car in the driveway will give the notion someone is home thus preventing home burglaries and having the car in the garage protects it from auto burglaries.
I think it is probably a wash. If you do leave the car in the driveway and make sure you don't leave items in the car worth stealing then you will probably be ok with auto burglaries. Auto burglars usually just walk car to car and if the doors are unlocked they rummage through the car.
If the cars are locked they look in the windows and if they see things that are worth stealing they break in.
Motion lights and open yards clear of hiding places are excellent ways to protect from home burglary as are the rest of the tips on my post.
Are burglaries done mostly during the day or at night?
If you're home and a burglar breaks into the house, what do you do after you call 911? If you have a gun, should you use it? If you know how to fight should you take them down?
Residential burglaries are usually done during the day while commercial burglaries are done at night. If you are home and a burglar enters, call 911. Yell out that you have called the police and in most cases the burglar will run from the scene.
You should not attempt to apprehend the burglar. Only try and get a description of the burglar and any getaway vehicle if you can do so with out putting yourself in harms way.
You can only use deadly force to protect the lives of yourself or another who is in imminent danger. You can not shoot a fleeing felon. Or someone who is not advancing on you or attacking you. You may not use deadly force against someone only because they are stealing from you.
I know some people are going to attack me for giving this advice but I am only telling you what the laws are in New Mexico. The same laws and rules apply to police as well.
I notice you do not mention leaving sound on, radios, perhaps TV but I worry about overheating and fire - have you found it deters entry at all?
I neglected to add that to the list, Yes making the home seem occupied by using lights on timers at night or leaving radio or tv on during the day is a deterrent also.
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