Tips For Preventing Neighborhood Crime

While the police are busy fighting crime, you can help us prevent it. This includes in your very own neighborhood! All you have to do is make sure your home is secure by following these simple steps...

Lock those doors.

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Keep your house locked when you are away as well as when you are home and use deadbolt locks to secure your home. The deadbolt lock has a bolt that must be activated by a key or thumb turn. It offers good security because it is not spring activated and cannot be opened with a credit card.

Close AND lock those windows.

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Many burglars make entry into residences through open windows so make sure that they are always closed and locked even when you are home.

If you have double hung windows pin your windows or add an auxiliary lock to them. This type of mechanism will allow you to secure your window when you open it (5 inches or less) for ventilation.

You can also use auxillary locks to secure sliding glass doors.

Take extra precautions if you are going on vacation.

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1.) Do not leave messages indicating that you are out of town on your mailbox, phone answering machine, or social media sites.

2.) Suspend paper and mail deliveries when going out of town; or have a friend or neighbor pick up newspapers, mail, and flyers from your yard or door.

3.) Call your District Police Station to place your house on vacation watch so that officers can keep an eye on your house during your absence.

4.) Use electric timers inside your home to turn on lights, T.V. or radios during your absence.

Landscape responsibly.

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Fences: Ever wondered which is better for home security, a privacy fence vs. chain link fence? Burglars prey on privacy. Fences that allow activity to be seen in your yard are preferable to “privacy” fences.

Trees and shrubbery: Should be trimmed 6 inches below windows and at least 3 feet away from doors. Shrubbery such as rose bushes or other thorny varieties serve as a good deterrent to window peepers.

Landscape rock: Large landscape rock (golf ball size or larger) can be used to damage your property. Small landscape rock (smaller than golf ball size) is both decorative and, if someone walks on them, will be easily heard.

Landscape lighting is low voltage lighting that can highlight your property line, light up your sidewalk and also light up the exterior of your windows – making your home a less attractive target to night time burglars.

Light it up!

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Motion detector lights are very effective in deterring crime. They also light up your driveway or entry doors when you are leaving or coming home.

What's your house number?

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Visible house numbers are important. They can save police officers, firefighters and paramedic’s valuable time. House numbers are especially important if you live where there is an alley. Police officers and firefighters will often respond in the alley, as access is sometimes better.

Secure your garage....

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A garage can be broken into in 6 seconds, but there are ways to prevent it...

...with a zip tie!

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Use a zip tie, which you can purchase at any grocery store, and thread it through the emergency release latch on your garage door.

Don't forget that doggie door.

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From time to time, burglars will use a doggie door to gain entery into your home. Make sure your doggie door is secure when you leave for long periods of time, like on vacation.

Lock it down.

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You can always invest in a home security system.