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Burglary Prevention Tips

Burglars don’t like to make noise, they don’t like to be seen and the harder you can make it for them to get into your home, the better. Ways to achieve this include:

1. Alarm Systems (noise makers that summon police)

2. Trimming your landscaping down to 3 feet for bushes and up 7 feet from the ground on trees (so the burglar is more likely  to be seen) 

3. Upgraded (more expensive) deadbolt locks with at least a one inch bolt 

4. Latch plate for the deadbolt secured with 3 inch screws

5. Lock your windows and doors when you are not home 

6. When you leave home, leave a loud TV or Radio on (loud enough to be heard from the front door) 

7. If someone unexpectedly knocks on your door, do not open the door but do let them know you are home—if it is even remotely suspicious, call police immediately with a good  description. Many burglars will knock first to see if anyone is home. When someone answers the door, they’ll have some excuse to be there (ex. They are looking for someone else a and have the wrong house, etc.) 

8. Close your blinds so that burglars can’t see into your residence 

9. Dogs are an excellent deterrent—most burglars do not want to tangle with a dog 

10. Get to know your neighbors. Concerned neighbors watch out  for each other and burglars don’t like that. 

11. Consider covering your garage door windows so a burglar can’t see that no cars are present (meaning no one is at home)

Burglars usually work during daytime hours, with the peak time being 8am to 11am. The Wheeling Police Department provides free Security Surveys for residents that wish to have the safety of their home assessed. Contact the Crime Prevention Unit at 847-459-2994 with any questions.

Exterior Doors

Many residential doors feature hollow-core construction and poor locks, which are easily forced or kicked open.  If you want additional protection, you need solid doors and quality locks.

Arcadia Doors

Many burglars enter homes through improperly secured arcadia doors.  Additional locks and security measures will prevent the door from being opened or lifted out of the track.

Screws installed in the track above the sliding door frame will prevent the door from being lifted out of the track.  Drill a pilot hole in the top track above, and slightly in, from each corner of the sliding door frame section and install a screw into each hole.  Adjust the screws so that the head of the screw just barely clears the frame when it is moved back and forth.

Double Doors

These doors need solid security as they are easily jimmied or forced open.  Flush lever bolts installed at the top and bottom of the doors are recommended.  Make sure the bolt is long, sturdy and mounted into a solid door frame.

Doors with Windows

Doors with glass windows or glass ornamentation require double key deadbolt locks.  This prevents the burglar from breaking the glass and reaching inside to unlock the door.

The key to a double key deadbolt lock should be left in the lock at all times when someone is home to ensure easy exit in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Garage Doors

Standard locks on garage doors are easily pried, allowing a burglar access to your home without detection.  Cane bolts and hasps are excellent protection.  Make certain each side of the garage door is secured to prevent prying open a crawl space.  Any door leading from the garage into the house should be securely locked.  The more barriers you provide against the burglar, the better protected you are.

Hinges

Many homes have doors that open to the outside, exposing the hinge pins.  Despite a good strong lock, the burglar can remove the pins and lift the door from the frame.

To prevent this, remove two opposing screws from each leaf of the hinge.  Screw a long lag bolt into the frame side of the hinge leaf and saw off the head leaving about 1/2 inch protruding.  Drill out the opposite hole to allow the bolt to enter when the door is closed.  Do this to the top and bottom hinge plates.

The hinge pins can be removed by the burglar but the door will remain firmly in place.  This technique is good for any door, no matter how the hinges have been placed.

Door Viewers

To avoid opening your door without knowing who is there, install a door viewer.  This device has a wide angle lens to let you see someone standing outside your door without opening it.

Spring Latch

Some homes come equipped with this lock.  It offers very little protection since the bolt can be slipped with a credit card or knife.

This same lock, with a deadbolt latch, provides more protection, but it too can be forced open.

Deadbolt Locks

A deadbolt lock can provide good protection.  When you turn the key, the lock mechanism slides a strong metal bolt from the door into the frame.  When you buy a deadbolt lock, make sure that the bolt extends at least one inch from the edge of the door, the connecting screws that hold the lock together are on the inside of the door, the strike plate is attached to the door frame with screws that measure at least three inches in length and that the cylinder has a steel guard around the key section.  The cylinder guard should be tapered or rotate freely around the key section to prevent wrenching if it is twisted.  Also, make sure you buy upgraded locks that cannot be “bumped” (a new method of picking a lock with a special key). It’s worth the extra money for these locks.

Single Cylinder Deadbolt

A solid bolt, activated by a key from the outside or a knob on the inside, slides into the door frame.  The lock cannot be slipped or easily pried.  Deadbolt locks are only as good as the door and frame they are installed in.

Double Cylinder Deadbolt

This lock is basically the same as the single cylinder deadbolt, except that it requires a key to be used from either side to function.

Rim Lock

This lock has either horizontal or vertical deadbolts. It cannot be easily slipped, pried or forced with a wrench. This lock, like all others, requires a strong mounting surface and hardware to be effective.

Padlocks

When selecting padlocks to secure your garage door, storage shed, fence gate or tool box, do not economize.  Low-priced locks are made from low quality materials and easily pried open or cut with bolt cutters.  Look for these features when purchasing a padlock:

• Double locking shackle at the toe and heel

• Hardened steel shackle, the larger the diameter the better

• Five pin tumbler