Securing your Home and your Belongings

Crime Prevention Starts With You And Your Family

More often than not, crimes occur because we open ourselves and our families to criminal opportunities. Talking to strangers, absence of security procedures for anonymous callers, taking for granted one’s safety outside the home, etc. make us easy prey to criminals.

In the fight against crime, knowing that the worst can happen makes you less prone to be a victim and more confident of avoiding disasters. Protecting yourself, your family and your home is a matter of responsibility that cannot be taken on by anyone else. You can make the difference.

Securing your Home and your Belongings

There are three things you can do to help reduce burglary:
1. Make your home burglar-proof.
2. Mark your belongings that burglars are most likely to steal.
3. Be alert to report suspicious persons and unusual activities to the police before a crime may occur.

What can you do?

1. Ensure all doors and windows have locks in working condition. Keep only that is used to enter the house open, all other entry points to your household should be securely locked to prevent unnoticed entry into your home.

2. Make it a habit to check that all doors and windows are locked at night before going to sleep. The dark of night is a most ready camouflage for robbers and other criminals.

3. Outside your home: Prune lower tree limbs – don’t provide the thief with a natural ladder into second floor windows. Keep the view to your house open – criminals love to hide behind tall fences or overgrown bushes while breaking into your home.

4. Keeps porches, yards, and all entrances to your house and garage well lighted. Leave lights on inside your house when you go out for the evening.

5. Keep a record of the important information (especially make, model number, serial number) of all household facilities and equipment, such as TV, radio, video cassette recorder, refrigerator, VCR, washing machine. Have an inventory of your jewelry and other precious items and documents like birth, baptismal and marriage certificates.

6. Store cash and other valuable in the bank. Hiding them inside locked drawers does not guarantee that they will be safe from the knowing eyes and practiced moves of robbers.

7. Bring in all outdoor equipment (bicycles, garden hose, mower, etc.) at night. Leaving these valuables out in the garden or street is an open invitation to robbers and thieves.

8. Protect your house from prying eyes by using curtains or drapes.

9. Provide family members with their own keys to the house. This is safer than leaving the key in a “secret” place, one that can be discovered by any person who takes the time to watch your movements when you leave your home and come back at night.

10.If you and your family are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to watch your home, or ask a relative to stay in your home while you are away. An empty house is a prime target for criminal elements.

If you are under threat…

If there are suspicious sounds or shadows in your home, try to contract the police quietly so as not to let the intruders know that you are aware of their presence. Most robbers are after the property inside your home, and are more prone to working swiftly and quietly to avoid any physical or violent encounters.

If you awake to the sound of an intruder, you have several options:

1. Lie quietly to avoid attracting attention to yourself, hoping that they will leave you undisturbed.

2. You may choose to open lights and make noise by moving around thereby warning them that you are awake, and scaring them into leaving your home. Even if you are alone in the house, you may speak loudly to an imaginary companion.

3. If you see signs of a break-in or suspicious persons inside your home, do not attempt to go in as the robbers may still be inside. Go to your nearest neighbor and call the police for immediate assistance.

4. Remain calm and do not panic. Although a robber would prefer to avoid confrontation, they are easily agitated and more prone to uncalled for abuse or
violence.

5. Try to talk it out with the robbers. If you are up to it. This will delay them, and allow for alternative action on your part, if the situation allows.

6. Note all peculiarities and mannerisms of the robbers, if you come face-to-face with them. Tattoo marks, physical defects, moles and speech mannerisms will help in giving the police a more solid description of the robbers.