How to Discourage Burglars

Burglars look for an easy target. Here's how to make your place less likely to be chosen.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Install deadbolt locks on exterior doors.

2. Keep shrubbery trimmed low so the burglar won't be hidden while jimmying a window.

3. Keep the gate(s) locked if you have a privacy fence. That way, someone can't enter through the gate and then work unseen to break in a back door or window.

4. Drill the sliding-glass door so you can run a pin from the door's edging into its frame to prevent entry. Otherwise, many of these door units can simply be removed from their openings - despite a broom handle inserted in the door track.

5. Lock the door leading from your home to an attached garage even if you have an electronic garage-door opener. Burglars have devices that can steal your electronic code, so the locked door could create the only barrier if illegal entry is gained through the garage.

6. Keep your windows closed and locked (pins from the window's casing into the frame are best) when you aren't home.

7. Don't hide a key outside. Burglars know where to look.

8. Put burglar bars on windows. Be sure they are the type with push-button openings from indoors so that you can escape easily in case of fire.

9. Play a radio when you're out of the house.

10. Do not leave a note on the door saying that you're gone and when you'll return. Don't put your name on the mailbox, welcome sign or anywhere else outside your house. Armed with your last name and address, crooks can look up your phone number, call the house to see whether anyone answers or listen to a too-revealing message on the machine. (Don't leave an message on your machine saying you'll be gone!)

11. Install a monitored burglar alarm and post a sign that says so. Or at least have a sign indicating that you have an alarm even if you don't.

12. Get a dog. Or put a "Beware of Dog" sign on gates leading to the back yard even if you don't have a dog.

13. Light the exterior of your home at night. Sensor lighting turns on automatically when it detects a person (or animal) within its field.

14. Put a sign on the door that says "Please don't ring bell. Day sleeper inside." This gives the impression that the home is occupied during the day, when most residential burglaries occur.

15. Take special measures during vacation. Don't let mail and newspapers pile up, do put lights and a radio on irregular timers, and do ask a neighbor to put some trash in your cans and park a car out front occasionally.

16. Tell all trusted neighbors what your typical work hours are and when you'll be traveling. Also let them know whether anyone has access to the house while you're out.

Tips & Warnings

• Local police and crime-watch groups may have other tips that will help you.

on 2/28/2006 On sliding doors, install a screw in the upper frame to prevent lifting. Slide the door open and install it directly overhead in the channel, so the door slides over it, but the door can still opened and closed. Mine is about 8 inches from the corner (if you slid the door open 8 inches then that is about where the screw is seen in the upper frame). Find the perfect screw depth by adjusting the screw in and out so that the door slides fine but you are unable to lift it up. The key is to have the screw out as much as possible without interfering with the sliding of the door. Having this screw with the frame pin and broom stick elements mentioned in this article make a sliding door very secure.

Another key security precaution is to use the lock provided on electronic garage doors at night and while away. This disables the remotes from operating. I have one of my cars in the driveway and leave the remote in it. Since I disable the garage doors every night before going to bed and while on vacation, this prevents a burglar from breaking into my car and getting access to my garage.

on 11/22/2005 Keep all the lights in your house turned on. Record the voices of people talking. Have this recording play while you are away. If a burglar comes to rob your home, he will hear the voices, become discouraged, and leave.

on 11/22/2005 Be sure to close your shades at dusk so that burglars can't see what you have inside!

on 11/22/2005 Keep garage doors closed at all times. Thieves can just pull up into your driveway, load everything in sight from your garage, and drive off quickly!

on 11/22/2005 Line roofs/ledges near windows, fence tops etc. (obviously where safe to you/pets) with permanently attached broken glass (small chunks are fine). Burglars will quickly let go! Also keeps pigeons etc. away. Use sensibly. Got this from a reformed burglar!