Henderson Police DepartmentCommunity Relations Unit

HOME SECURITYHOME SECURITY

Officer Ryan BrightwellOfficer Ryan Brightwell

Home Security

If you’re locked out of your home, If you’re locked out of your home, can you still get in?......can you still get in?...... … …. through an unlocked window in the back, . through an unlocked window in the back, … ….or maybe by using an extra key hidden .or maybe by using an extra key hidden under a flowerpotunder a flowerpot or up on a ledgeor up on a ledge

Well, if “Well, if “YOU”YOU” can break in can break in

“ “SO CAN A BURGLAR”SO CAN A BURGLAR”

Lock A Door - Stop A Thief

Give your home a fighting Give your home a fighting chance against crime.chance against crime.

Delaying a burglar Delaying a burglar

for four minutes is usually for four minutes is usually enough to prevent entry into a enough to prevent entry into a house or apartment.house or apartment.

Lock A Door - Stop A Thief

It is almost impossible to make a homeIt is almost impossible to make a home

"crime proof" but it is easy to make "crime proof" but it is easy to make

entry difficult and entry difficult and

frustrate a burglar.frustrate a burglar.

Home and garage Home and garage

doors should always doors should always

be locked.  be locked.  More than halfMore than half of all residential burglaries of all residential burglaries

occur due to unlocked doors and windows.occur due to unlocked doors and windows.

Home Security

Most residential burglars devote little if any time to Most residential burglars devote little if any time to the advance planning of any specific break-in.the advance planning of any specific break-in.

Their crimes are, for the most part, crimes of Their crimes are, for the most part, crimes of opportunity. They pick what appears to be an opportunity. They pick what appears to be an easy easy markmark..

If their advance checking and closer examination If their advance checking and closer examination reveal a greater risk than anticipated, they move reveal a greater risk than anticipated, they move onto a safer target. onto a safer target.

Home Security

The more you can do to keep your home from looking The more you can do to keep your home from looking like an easy target, the safer you are. like an easy target, the safer you are.

There are also many steps that you can take to minimize There are also many steps that you can take to minimize your loss and improve your chances of recovery if a your loss and improve your chances of recovery if a break-in does occur.break-in does occur.

Operation Identification…Operation Identification…

..mark all of your valuables. ..mark all of your valuables.

Home Security

The first step in improving overall security is to take The first step in improving overall security is to take a hard look at the security measures already in use in a hard look at the security measures already in use in your home. your home.

To help you with this task, the Henderson Police To help you with this task, the Henderson Police

Department has developed a Home Security Survey.Department has developed a Home Security Survey.

Home Security

Go through the test carefully. Look at your Go through the test carefully. Look at your house at night as well as in the daytime. house at night as well as in the daytime.

Remember, the test points out security Remember, the test points out security weaknesses around your home.weaknesses around your home.

Your home cannot be adequately protected Your home cannot be adequately protected until these weaknesses are corrected. until these weaknesses are corrected.

Landscaping and Yard Security A few alterations to your landscaping can be enough to put A few alterations to your landscaping can be enough to put

off intruders.off intruders.

To avoid getting caught, intruders look for property they To avoid getting caught, intruders look for property they can get into and out of quickly. can get into and out of quickly.

Their ideal target is Their ideal target is

a house surrounded a house surrounded

by large hedges and by large hedges and

shrubs, which hamper shrubs, which hamper

visibility from the street visibility from the street

and neighbors housesand neighbors houses..

Landscaping and Yard Security Trim shrubbery and trees so doors and windows are Trim shrubbery and trees so doors and windows are

visible to neighbors, and from the street.visible to neighbors, and from the street.

Trimmed landscaping should not provide Trimmed landscaping should not provide

concealment for criminalsconcealment for criminals. .

Prune trees so they can't help a thief climb in second Prune trees so they can't help a thief climb in second floor windows.floor windows.

Place trellises where they can't be used as ladders to Place trellises where they can't be used as ladders to gain entry to the upper floors. gain entry to the upper floors.

Landscaping and Yard Security

Shrubbery within four feet of any sidewalks, Shrubbery within four feet of any sidewalks, driveways, doors or gates, should be maintained at a driveways, doors or gates, should be maintained at a height of not more than two feet.height of not more than two feet.

Plants between four and eight feet of any sidewalks, Plants between four and eight feet of any sidewalks, driveways, doors, or gates, should be maintained at a driveways, doors, or gates, should be maintained at a height of not more than four feet.height of not more than four feet.

Landscaping and Yard Security

Plants under windows should be maintained at Plants under windows should be maintained at a height that is below the window sill.a height that is below the window sill.

Trees should be trimmed so that the lower Trees should be trimmed so that the lower

branches are more than six feet off the ground.branches are more than six feet off the ground.

Landscaping and Yard Security

Place large gauge gravel on the ground near Place large gauge gravel on the ground near windows. The noise caused by intruders walking on it windows. The noise caused by intruders walking on it can become a psychological deterrent. can become a psychological deterrent.

DO NOT DO NOT place river rocks or other items near glass place river rocks or other items near glass windows or doors. You do not want to provide the windows or doors. You do not want to provide the burglar with his tools! burglar with his tools!

Limited or Direct Access to Yards

Intruders look for no, or few Intruders look for no, or few

obstacles blocking quick exits. obstacles blocking quick exits.

Fences prevent burglars from Fences prevent burglars from

carrying away large items ……carrying away large items ……

… ….if the gates are locked. .if the gates are locked. Gates should be locked at all Gates should be locked at all

times, even when you are home! times, even when you are home!

Ladders and tools should be Ladders and tools should be

stored in a garage or storagestored in a garage or storage

shed, and these areas should be locked. shed, and these areas should be locked.

Exterior Lighting It is a known fact, that good lighting is a deterrent to crime. It is a known fact, that good lighting is a deterrent to crime.

While any lighting will help reduce your risk of becoming While any lighting will help reduce your risk of becoming of a victim, the proper lights, used correctly will be the of a victim, the proper lights, used correctly will be the

most effective deterrent to criminal activity.most effective deterrent to criminal activity.

All sides of your home should be protected by security All sides of your home should be protected by security lighting that is located high out of reach, and is vandal lighting that is located high out of reach, and is vandal resistant. resistant.

Interior Lighting

If you go out for an evening leave a radio and If you go out for an evening leave a radio and several lights on.several lights on.

When you go on vacation put at least two When you go on vacation put at least two lights, in different parts of the house, and a lights, in different parts of the house, and a radio on timers. radio on timers.

Interior Lighting Regardless of whether you are on vacation, or just Regardless of whether you are on vacation, or just

gone for the evening……gone for the evening……

.…..from the outside your .…..from the outside your

house should look house should look as as

if someone is home.if someone is home.

House Doors

Entry doors should be solid core wood (at least 1 3/4" thick) Entry doors should be solid core wood (at least 1 3/4" thick) or metal wrapped.or metal wrapped.

Your door should fit it's frame tightly, with no more than Your door should fit it's frame tightly, with no more than 1/8" clearance between the door and the frame.1/8" clearance between the door and the frame.

Most hollow core doors can be easily broken through.Most hollow core doors can be easily broken through.

If the door is flimsy or weak, or doesn't fit securely into the If the door is flimsy or weak, or doesn't fit securely into the frame, it offers little protection, no matter what locks you frame, it offers little protection, no matter what locks you

use.use.

House Doors Doors with decorative glass panels or windows are easy Doors with decorative glass panels or windows are easy

marks. marks. It takes only seconds to break the glass and unlock the It takes only seconds to break the glass and unlock the

door. door. If you do not want to replace If you do not want to replace such doors, install a break-such doors, install a break- resistant plastic panel, such resistant plastic panel, such as Lexan®, or decorative as Lexan®, or decorative grille over the glass.grille over the glass.

Attach the grill with special Attach the grill with special non-removable screws. non-removable screws.

House Doors

For the best protection, install a wrought For the best protection, install a wrought iron security door over your front door.iron security door over your front door.

Wrought iron doors not only provide an Wrought iron doors not only provide an extra level of visible security against a extra level of visible security against a break-inbreak-in

they also allow you to open your front door to they also allow you to open your front door to strangers, strangers,

or leave the front door open for ventilation. or leave the front door open for ventilation.

Garage Doors

Keep your garage door shutKeep your garage door shut

Statistics show that approximately 40% of our Statistics show that approximately 40% of our non-forced entry residential crime is through non-forced entry residential crime is through open garage doors.open garage doors.

Once inside the garage a burglar can work Once inside the garage a burglar can work uninterrupted at getting into the house.uninterrupted at getting into the house.

Doors

If you have a garage door opener, do not leave the If you have a garage door opener, do not leave the remote inside a car that is parked in the driveway remote inside a car that is parked in the driveway overnight.overnight.

If you install a "doggie door" be sure it is not a way If you install a "doggie door" be sure it is not a way in for burglars as well as the dog. Do not be in for burglars as well as the dog. Do not be complacent by the fact that you have a small dog. complacent by the fact that you have a small dog. Burglars come in all sizes! Burglars come in all sizes!

Locks, Strike Plates

All exterior doors require the use of a deadbolt lock. When All exterior doors require the use of a deadbolt lock. When you turn the key the locking mechanism slides a strong you turn the key the locking mechanism slides a strong metal bolt from the door into the door's frame.metal bolt from the door into the door's frame.

When you buy a deadbolt lock, When you buy a deadbolt lock, MAKE SURE:MAKE SURE:

The bolt extends The bolt extends

at least 1" into the at least 1" into the

front edge of the door.front edge of the door.

Locks, Strike PlatesThe strike plate is The strike plate is attached through the attached through the trim to the door frame trim to the door frame with screws at least 3" with screws at least 3" longlong. .

It has a rotation case hardened It has a rotation case hardened shroud that prevents it from shroud that prevents it from being twisted off with a pair of being twisted off with a pair of pliers or other toolspliers or other tools..

Key Control As many as half of all burglaries take place without forced As many as half of all burglaries take place without forced

entry. Many times the burglar uses a key. Be sure your keys entry. Many times the burglar uses a key. Be sure your keys don't fall into the wrong hands. don't fall into the wrong hands. Never carry identification on your key ring or holder.Never carry identification on your key ring or holder.

Re-key all locks when you move into a new house or apartment.Re-key all locks when you move into a new house or apartment.

Know who has keys to your home. Do not give keys to Know who has keys to your home. Do not give keys to maintenance or delivery people. maintenance or delivery people.

If you must leave a key behind, leave it with a trusted neighbor. If you must leave a key behind, leave it with a trusted neighbor. Make sure that each member of your family knows where his or Make sure that each member of your family knows where his or her key is.her key is.

Never hide a key outside. Burglars know all the hiding places.Never hide a key outside. Burglars know all the hiding places.

Do not hang keys on hooks within plain view inside your home. Do not hang keys on hooks within plain view inside your home.

Sliding Glass Doors and Sliding Glass Windows

Two factors must be protected against:Two factors must be protected against:

Prying the LockPrying the Lock Most sliding doors and sliding windows come equipped Most sliding doors and sliding windows come equipped

with a lock that is easily pried open. A supplemental with a lock that is easily pried open. A supplemental lock must be installed.lock must be installed.

Broomsticks (they should fit snug), "Charlie bars" and Broomsticks (they should fit snug), "Charlie bars" and finger operated locks provide some protection. finger operated locks provide some protection.

Key locking devices are much preferred because they Key locking devices are much preferred because they can prevent the burglars from using the door or window can prevent the burglars from using the door or window to remove stolen property. to remove stolen property.

Sliding Glass Doors and Windows Lifting OutLifting Out Many sliding doors and sliding windows can Many sliding doors and sliding windows can be lifted out of their tracks from the outside.be lifted out of their tracks from the outside.

Two sheet metal screws placed in the track Two sheet metal screws placed in the track above the removable part of the door or above the removable part of the door or window can prevent it from being removed.window can prevent it from being removed.

Adjust the screws so that the doors or Adjust the screws so that the doors or window will just clear underneath them.window will just clear underneath them.

Drill a hole and insert a nail through the Drill a hole and insert a nail through the inside frame and part way through the inside frame and part way through the metal door frame. You can remove themetal door frame. You can remove thenail but the burglar can't.nail but the burglar can't.

Security Alarms

Security alarms are recommended.Security alarms are recommended.

A security alarm does no good if it is not A security alarm does no good if it is not turned on.turned on.

Many homes with alarms, are burglarized Many homes with alarms, are burglarized because the alarm was not turned on.because the alarm was not turned on.