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Doorways &
Windows
Install reliable
dead bolt type locks on all doors (see a locksmith for
assistance).
Install doors and
door frames that help deter easy access to the home. It makes no
sense to have strong doors installed into a weak frame. Make sure one
compliments the other.
Make sure doors leading into
the home from the outside are external doors and not doors
intended for the interior of your home. Do not use hollow doors on the
exterior of your home.
Be sure door hinges
connecting the door to its frame are strong and at least three inches deep.
Install locking pins
on your windows and sliding glass door frames by drilling a small hole in the
frames and placing a common household nail into the small hole. When doing so,
it is best to drill your hole at a 45 degree angle.
Don't leave windows
and doors unsecured while away on errands or while asleep at night.
Burglars are sometimes willing to enter a home that they know is occupied and
sometimes even targets such homes. Particularly when intending to commit
crimes such as rapes, assaults or murder in addition to stealing.
Improve the
Security of Your Home
Install motion sensor lights
around the home. Thieves hate well lighted areas; especially when they are
working under the cover of darkness.
Use night lights throughout
the house. These serve as deterrents and enhance your safety in the event of
an intrusion.
Install an alarm system. This
can be one that is audible or a silent alarm that contacts a 24 hour
monitoring company that will in turn contact the Hendersonville Police
Department or your local law enforcement agency.
Be sure to lock all
possessions away and out of the sight of would be burglars. Don't advertise
what you've got. That's an invitation the thief will surely accept. Don't make
it easy for him!
Keep shrubs
around the home trimmed to eliminate or reduce the number of hiding places for
a burglar.
Document all
possessions. This can be done by taking still photo shots of all of your
valuables. A less time consuming way to do this and save money at the same
time is to videotape all of your possessions. It is also a good idea to log
down all your serial numbers on items in the home. For those that are not
numbered you should engrave them using your driver's license number. This
number is more easily traced to the owner by the police than other numbers.
Always include the state issuing the license as well.
If you have a
garage, use it! Lock both your car and the garage. If you don't have a garage,
park in a driveway instead of the street, if possible.
Never hide spare
keys in a secret place or in a magnetic key box under the door mat, over door
frames or other accessible places. Burglars routinely check these locations.
If you feel better with spare keys close at hand, then carry them with you.
Form a community
watch program. Burglars thrive in areas where neighbors don't communicate or
work together to keep their neighborhoods safe. By having a community watch in
place neighbors have an opportunity to discuss ideas with one another and the
police. Together we can come up with ideas and strategies that will keep us,
our loved ones and neighborhood safe. Contact the Hendersonville Police
Department today to get information on how to start a community watch program.
Again, install
the best type of alarm that you can afford (silent alarms, sound
discriminators, motion detectors. Be sure to advise potential thieves or
burglars that you have an alarm system installed by placing warning stickers
on your windows.
What To Do If
Your Home Is Burglarized
If you
discover that your home has been burglarized, call the Hendersonville Police
Department (or your local police department) immediately! Quick reporting is
essential in recovering stolen property or solving other crimes committed
during a burglary. Any delay in reporting only helps the thieves. The quicker
we get information about your situation; the quicker we can assist you and
contact other Police Departments who can perhaps help us in locating your
property or solving the crime .
Your
Hendersonville Police Department hope that these Home Burglary Prevention Tips
will keep YOU and YOUR LOVED ONES as well as your property safe!
When Vacationing
Contact the Hendersonville
Police Department and request a "Security Check" be conducted
periodically while you are away. Call 697-3025.
Advise you neighbors when you
will be away and returning (let them know if anyone will be around while you
are away).
Keep lawn manicured so as to
not give the appearance of being absent from your home.
Stop all mail and newspaper
deliveries or have someone pick these up daily.
Turn off the answering
machine.
Use timers on appliances
(television and radios) and lamps.
Never discuss vacation plans
with stranger or home service/repair representatives.
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