ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Some experts say that it's best to leave your draperies open and a light on inside your home when you're gone after dark. They maintain that this makes it more difficult for a burglar to break into and move about in the interior without being seen. Thus, it may act as a deterrent. Whether you leave your drapes open or closed perhaps depends more on where your home is located and how much exposure your home gets from the road and neighbors. For example, if a home is located in a highly-populated suburban neighborhood, the number of vehicles and people passing by may warrant this approach. However, if the same house is located on a back road in a rural setting where there are no sidewalks, very little vehicle traffic, and the closest neighbor is 100 yards away, it might be better to leave the drapes closed and a light on inside. This way, a burglar may not know if you're at home.
TOPIC: Neighborhood crime QUESTION: What steps should I take when the crime level in my neighborhood reaches serious proportions?
ANSWER: The first thing to do is to use basic crime-prevention methods to assure the safety of yourself and family members. If possible, organize a neighborhood crime watch group in conjunction with your local police department. You might also consider installing an alarm system in your home and possibly your automobile.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If crime in your neighborhood has reached a serious level and a nighborhood crime watch group has not alleviated the problem, you might consider moving to a different neighborhood. This may be exactly what the doctor ordered, especially if you have small children.
TOPIC: Outside Lights
QUESTION: Should I leave my porch light on all night to scare off burglars?
ANSWER: Do not leave your porch light on all night long to scare off burglars.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: There is no reason why you should leave a porch light on all night when there are outside lights that automatically turn on when someone approaches and then turn off after a pre-determined period of time. These fixtures come with passive infrared receivers (PIRs) that detect infrared body heat from peoples' bodies. PIRs detect by watching the background infrared light level of the air, ground, and objects within its optic range. Then, when someone or something walks through the optic view of the PIR, it "sees" the infrared light level of the new object because it's different than the background that it's been looking at. The use of PIR light fixtures essentially eliminate the need for timers because the light automatically turns off after the person has retreated.
TOPIC: Porch light
QUESTION: If I know early in the day that I won't be back until after dark, should I leave my porch light on all day so there's a light on when I come home?
ANSWER: Do not leave your porch light on early in the day because you intend to return after dark.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Leaving a porch light on during the day only signals a burglar that you intend to be gone until after dark. Because criminals know from experience that people leave their porch light on during the day when they intend to be gone all day until after dark, and in as much as daylight burglaries are so prevalent today, this only invites a criminal to burglarize your home. Instead, at least buy a light-switch-style timer or a porch light with a photoelectric eye built into it. This will enable the porch light to come on either at a predetermined time or at dusk-- whether you're home or not. This, plus the use of indoor, plug-in-type light timers, the burglar will not know for sure whether you're at home or not.
TOPIC: That Lived-in Look
QUESTION: Are there simple things that I can do myself to keep my home safe from burglars?
ANSWER: Give your home that lived-in look when your away.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Because the majority of breakins today occur during the daylight hours, it's especially important that your home look lived in at all times. For example, before leaving for work, church, or any other event, turn the ringers down on your inside telephones. This will prevent a burglar from calling your home from a nearby pay telephone and then approaching the house, possibly prentending to be broken down or selling something, and then listening for the sound of ringing phones in the background. If he hears the incessant ring of a telephone, he'll know right away that there's no one at home. If you have an alarm system installed in your home, the professional who installed it can arrange to automatically disconnect your inside telephones when your alarm system is armed in AWAY mode. Then, when you return and DISARM the system, your telephones will automatically be turned back on. Another thing that people sometimes do is leave a note on the door telling people where they've gone and how long they expect to be away. In the wrong hands, this information tells its recipient how long they have to perform their ill deed before you return home. Lights that turn on and off at random times after dark is another way to give your home that lived-in look. Use electronic timers to automatically alter the on and off times so burglar don't become privy to the fact that you're not there. Standard plug-in timers, although better than nothing, can actually tip off a burglar that you're not at home. This is especially true when the burglar has observed the same lights come on and off at the same times several nights in a row.
TOPIC: Dogs
QUESTION: Will a dog adequately protect my home?
ANSWER: Dogs provide early warning of an approaching burglar, but does the liablity that a dog present offset this advantage?
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you rely on a family dog to protect your home, you might want to reconsider. Dogs suitable to the task of home protection are usually well trained to resist the kind of temptations that burglars will present. Burglars know all the tricks when it comes to distracting an untrained animal. In addition, burglars have been known to hurt and even kill them, something that you wouldn't want to happen if the dog is a family pet. Untrained dogs kept outside, for example, can be coaxed to accept a burglar who, while you're away at work, has shown him kindness over a period of time. Even of more concern is the liability risk that dogs present when neighborhood children and deliverymen are bit for no apparent reason. This kind of event often ends up in court with the owner of the dog paying the medical bills and other expenses.
TOPIC: Noise And Light
QUESTION: If I can't afford to have deadbolt locks or an alarm system installed, what else can I do to protect my home?
ANSWER: Use common sense, noise, and light to protect your home.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Use common sense to protect yourself. For example, keep your garage door shut at all times other than when it's being used. Use electronic timers to turn your inside lights on and off after dark when you're not home. Keep a radio or TV set playing after dark when you're away from home. In addition, put your outside lights on a timer so they reliably come on every night, whether you're home or not. There are other things you can do to deter criminals from burglarizing your home or victimizing a family member outside the house. For example, be sure tha where you park your car is well lit at night. Periodically trim the shrubery next to the house so criminals cannot hide behind them and attack you when you leave the house or arrive home after dark. Be sure all entrances are well lit so someone cannot sneak up and surprise you.
TOPIC: Outside fuse boxes
QUESTION: I have an outside fuse box. What can I do to protect it?
ANSWER: Install a padlock and keep the key in a common place inside the house.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Outside fuseboxes are often the first place a burglar will go before breaking into your home. He knows that cutting the power may effect your alarm system, and if you're in bed, he knows that it will prevent you from turning on a light if you should awaken while he's in the house. Not only that, but kids wanting to pull a prank can use it too. The only defense for this is to either have an electrician move it to the inside of your home or protect it with a padlock.
TOPIC: Intercoms and peep hole viewers, intercoms not enough
QUESTION: Are peep hole viewers and intercoms up to the task of true identification of callers at my door?
ANSWER: Not entirely. If you do not know the person on the other side of the door, simply talking to them may not be enough to ascertain their mission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Intercoms by themselves are not enough to thwart victimization by a caller waiting on the other side of a door. To help assure that you do not become a victim, install a peep hole sight in addition to your intercom.
TOPIC: House numbers
QUESTION: Why is it important to display your house numbers on your house, mailbox, or curb? ANSWER: Without house numbers, how will emergency services reach you when you call for help? ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Be sure your house numbers are easy to see from the road. This is especially helpful when you've dialed 911 for help and the ambulance or police are on their way. Unless they can easily find your house, they might take more time than necessary to find you.
TOPIC: Too much privacy can be dangerous.
QUESTION: Does privacy help prevent crime?
ANSWER: No, in some cases it gives a criminal cover to work under.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Privacy is nice and it certainly makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over, but it also gives the criminal privacy, which is certainly another incentive to commit a crime. He knows that he won't be seen. If you're home is situated to give you more privacy, you need to take measures to increase the security of your own home.
TOPIC: Crime stats, choose where you live carefully
QUESTION: What is the first thing I should do before moving into a new neighborood?
ANSWER: Check out the crime stats in that area.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Check the crime stats in a the area you intend to move into before you move. Keep in mind that there's probably no neighborhood that's totally free of crime. To be certain of your choice, be sure to compare the crime statistics of the neighborhood that you're interested in.
TOPIC: Cul-de-sacs, less exposure means additional security
QUESTION: Are people living on cul-de-sacs less or more likely to be victimized?
ANSWER: Less likely.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The chances of your home being burglarized on a cul-de-sac are lower for several reason. First, access is limited to only one entrance, so a stranger walking in the immediate neighborhood will seem out of place to the neighbors. Second, people who live on cul-de-sacs tend to watch out for one another because their houses face one another. This makes it easier to spot strangers in the neighborhood. Strangers are more noticable in this environment because they are not as common here as they are in neighborhoods that are well-traveled.
TOPIC: Chances of being burglarized are higher
QUESTION: What should I do to decrease my chances of becoming a victim?
ANSWER: Own your home instead of renting, live in the country and not the city, and improve the security of your home.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: You're chances of becoming a victim is greater
- if you rent your home than if you own it.
- if you live in the city instead of the country.
- if you live next to an open public area, such as a playground, park, parking lot or an alleyway.
TOPIC: Travel Security
QUESTION: Am I least likely to be victimized in neighborhood that is well traveled?
ANSWER: No, it is better to live in a neighborhood where vehicle access is limited.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Crimes occur on a regular basis in neighborhoods with a main thoroughfare. This is because strangers are commonly seen there. Thus, the presence of unfamiliar faces does not result in wery niehborhood residents.
TOPIC: Neighborhood crime
QUESTION: What steps should I take when the crime level in my neighborhood reaches serious proportions?
ANSWER: The first thing to do is to use basic crime-prevention methods to assure the safety of yourself and family members. If possible,
organize a neighborhood crime watch group in conjunction with your local police
department. You might also consider installing an alarm system in
your home and possibly your automobile.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If crime in your neighborhood has reached a serious level and a nighborhood crime watch group has not alleviated the problem, you might consider moving to a different neighborhood. This may be exactly what the doctor ordered, especially if you have small children.
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