When you’re
going to be absent from home for a few days, ask a neighbor to pick
up newspapers or mail, or stop delivery during the period of time you
are going to be away from home. Piles of newspapers advertise that no
one is at home. You may fill out a Keep Check form and mail or email
to the Sheriffs Office and we will check your home while you are away.
When you
leave home, whether you’re planning to be away for an hour or several
days, you can minimize the chance that your home will be broken into and
your valuables stolen. Consider the following prevention tips:
Deadbold
locks should be used on all external doors. Locks are only good if
they are used.
Sliding
doors should be secured with a sturdy pin to hold them in place or
with a sturdy bar to jam the door into place.
Double-hung
windows should be secured by drilling a nail size hole between the
inner and outer frames, and inserting a nail to prevent them from
being forced open. A window lock is worthless unless you keep it
locked.
Never
hide a key outside the home. A trustworthy friend or neighbor should
keep a key you can use in an emergency.
Rekey
the locks if you lose a key, or if you move into a new home.
All
external doors should be constructed of metal or solid wood.
Use
a wide angle viewer on external doors to identify visitors before
you unlock the door.
Use
external lighting where possible. A thief will generally avoid a well-lit
area.
The
more visible your house is to passersby or neighbors, the less likely
it will be chosen as a target for a break-in. Shrubs should be planted
in locations which would not obstruct the view of passersby or neighbors.
Create
the illusion that someone is home by using electronic timers on lamps
or radios.
When
you’re going to be absent from home for a few days, ask a neighbor
to pick up newspapers or mail, or stop delivery during the period
of time you are going to be away from home. Piles of newspapers advertise
that no one is at home.
Leave
shades and curtains in normal positions while you are absent from
home.
Don’t
advertise that you are going to be away from home for a period of
time. Tell only trusted friends or neighbors.
Record
a list of all items of value in your home with descriptions and serial
numbers, and keep this list in a safe place (such as in a secure filing
cabinet at work, or a safety deposit box. Valuable items should also
be photographed, and a video tour of each room detailing valuable
items of personal property would be helpful if a problem did occur.
Use
“owner applied” personal numbers, such as social security numbers
on valuables, such as televisions, VCRs, and bicycles.
If you
decide to have an alarm system installed, shop around for a reliable
alarm company.
Never
leave high value items unsecured outside the home in plain sight,
such as riding lawn mowers.
Be aware
of suspicious traffic and/or persons in your neighborhood. Report
any suspicious activity to the local police or sheriff’s office.
Make a List
Record
a list of all items of value in your home with descriptions and serial
numbers, and keep this list in a safe place (such as in a secure filing
cabinet at work, or a safety deposit box. Valuable items should also
be photographed, and a video tour of each room detailing valuable items
of personal property would be helpful if a problem did occur. Here's
a form you can use: Personal Property
ID Record (PDF format)
Remember,
in order for a crime to occur,
three elements must be present:
The
desire to commit a crime.
The
ability to commit a crime.
The opportunity to commit a
crime.
If
you do all that you can do to eliminate
the opportunity for a person to
commit a crime by protecting your
home using the tips above, you
minimize the chances that your
home will be broken into.
For further information contact the Crime Prevention Division at the Catawba County Sheriff's Office,
465-8336.
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