Alarmforce Burglary Prevention Tips

ALARMFORCE ALARMFORCE BURGLARY PREVENTION TIPS Burglars go through neighbourhoods looking for uncut lawns and stuffed mailboxes. In the evening, they look for darkened houses or lights that have been left on too long. The following burglary prevention tips will help to make you and your family safer. THE BURGLARY BASICS: → Make your home look occupled, and make it difficult to break In. → 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 golng to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on In the evening and off during the day. → Keep your garage door closed and locked. Don't allow dally dellverles of mall, newspapers or flyers buld up whlle you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mall, or arrange for a frlend or nelghbour to take them regularly. → Arrange for your lawn to be mowed If you are golng away for an extended time. → Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary. locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. → Pus Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors. Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are avallable for better security. Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives. DON'T TEMPT A THIEF: Lawn mowers, snow blowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight. Always lock your garden sheds and garages. Use curtalns on garage and basement windows. Never leave notes on your door such as "Gone shopping." LOCKS...GET THE BEST: No lock, regardless of Its quality, can be truly effective. Key-In dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation. Change locks Immediately If your keys are lost or stolen. When moving Into a new home, have all locks changed. TARGETING THE OUTSIDE: Have adequate exterlor lighting. A motion-sensitive light Is recommended for backyards. Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for Intruders. → Make sure your door hinges are on the Inside. WINDOWS: Most windows can be pinned for security. Drill a 3/16" hole on a slight downward slant through the Inside window frame and halfway Into the outside frame - place a nall in the hole to secure the window. ALARMS: An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provldes peace of mind to homeowners, especlally whlle on vacatlon. There is a wide varlety of alarm systems on the market. → Make several Inqulrles to different companles for the best security system avallable to you. IF YOUR HOME IS BROKEN INTO: If you come home to find an unexplained open/broken window or door. Do not enter - the perpetrator may still be Inside. Use a nelghbour's phone to call police. Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have Inspected for evidence. Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles. Note the descriptlons of any suspicious persons. CALL POLICE OTHER PRECAUTIONS YOU SHOULD TAKE: Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mallboxes or other "secret" hiding places – burglars know where to look for hidden keys. Keep a detalled Inventory of your valuable possessions, Including a description of the Items, date of purchase and origlinal value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy In a safe place away from home – this is a good precautlon In case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographlc or video record of valuable objects, helrlooms and antiques. Your Insurance company can provide assistance In making and keeplng your Inventory. Trim your shrubbery around your home to reduce cover for burglars. Be a good nelghbour. If you notice anything susplcious In your nelghbourhood, call 911 Immedlately. → Mark your valuables with your driver's license number with an engraver you can borrow from your precinct. Marked Items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easler for police to recover. Form a Neighbourhood Watch Group. We can help you work with your nelghbours to Improve security and reduce risk of burglary. Consider Installing a burglar alarm system. The MOST Important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighbourhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes! Remember the three L's of Crime Prevention: LIGHTS, LOCKS & the LAW! Light up your residence, lock your doors at all times, and call the Law when you see something suspicious. ALARMFORCE Created by AlarmForce © Source: MemphisPolice.org http://bit.ly/1bo7PGd