By Robert Carper

American homes are victims of burglary about every 15 seconds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice

More than 1.5 million residential burglaries occur every year in the United States, according to the FBI. Thieves target electronics, jewelry and other valuables, resulting in an average dollar loss of $2,079.

It’s not just about the money for many families, however. Thieves often take sentimental items and other things that can’t be replaced. And with identity theft now the fastest growing crime in the United States, burglars are now after your personal information and financial records as well.

To prevent your home from becoming burglarized, there are several steps you can take to deter burglars or make it difficult for them to break into your home. For example, you can alter the appearance of the outside of your home or hide valuables in secure locations inside your home to prevent burglars from stealing your personal property.

There are measures you can take to protect your home and family, many of which are easy and free.

First, a few statistics:

Home burglary statistics and cost

• A home burglary occurs approximately every 15 seconds in the United States.
• On average, a home burglary results in a dollar loss of about $1,600.
• About 30% of all burglaries are classified as "unlawful entry," meaning the burglar was able to gain entry without using force – often through an unlocked door or window.
• Nearly 66% of all burglaries are residential, and of those, 62% occur during the daytime, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., when no one is likely to be at home.
• Only 13% of reported burglaries are solved by the police.
• About 30% of private homes have security systems. Homes without security systems are two to three times more likely to be broken into. 

This is a fairly comprehensive list. Secure your home with these tips:

·       See something – say something

·       Get some mace

·       Consider a security door

·       Turn on your bright lights when pulling in at night

·       Suspicious drive by comes by often but is not note known by anyone

·       Have your mail and news paper picked up when you are away

·       Destroy boxes from new purchase don’t sit then the street for burglars to see

·       Don’t open your door for strangers

·       Get a ring door bell

·        watch out for the fake utility man

·       Watch for unusual parked cars

·       Store lock boxes or safes in a hidden area of the house. The basement or lowest level is recommended to reduce the risk of heat damage from a fire.
  · Turn your TV sound up as it gives the impression that someone is home       

• Keep all personal information (passports, financial statements, etc.) in a locked, fire proof safe or a safety deposit box.
• Close curtains or blinds to prevent thieves from taking inventory of your personal belongings and seeing the home's layout.
• Store ladders, tools and any other outside objects that can be used to assist in home entry in a locked shed or garage.
• Keep garage doors closed and locked. If the garage doors have windows, put the garage door release cord away from those windows.
• Replace worn keypad entry devices. After extensive use, the combination of numbers and letters could be visible, providing criminals with information that can be used to gain access to your home.
• Change the home's entry device access code periodically to prevent wear.
• Make sure the home’s address is visible for police, firemen and paramedics for easy identification of the home.
• Don’t post the family name on the mailbox or on the house.
• One such technique is called “bumping.” Lock bumping, also referred to as key bumping is an attack technique using specially cut keys, known as bump keys, that can defeat conventional pin and tumbler door locks. 
  
  Ways to prevent this: http://united-locksmith.net/blog/8-security-measures-to-prevent-lock-bumping
• Don’t talk about vacation plans in public areas, such as the beauty shop, shopping mall or car rental office.
• Secure a wireless network at home. Computer access could allow cyber criminals easy access to confidential personal information.
• Before placing anything in the garbage, do the following:
• Shred all papers.
• Destroy old computer hard drives.
• Break down all boxes for high value equipment. Brand names on boxes alert thieves to items inside the house.

• Home security system – Deter thieves with noise or an automatic call to the police.
• Proper outside lighting – Thieves may choose to bypass a well-lit home.
• Strong exterior doors – Solid wood or metal provides stronger protection against break-ins.
• Block windows for the basement or locked window well covers – Use these to keep thieves from seeing or entering your basement.
• Locks for pet doors – Make sure your pet door isn’t a point of entry for a thief. 

·       Perform routine tasks and clean up the outside your property on a regular basis to show you are occupying your home.

·       Empty your mailbox on a regular basis, collect old newspapers from your driveway, or pick up discarded trash that has landed in your yard.         

 ·   Pick up your trash can after trash pick in the morning or as soon as possible. It could give the appearance that no one is home  if it sits there all day    

·       Install timed lights or leave a radio or television playing if you are traveling or will be absent from your home for long periods of time.

·       You may want to enlist a trusted friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your property and to collect your mail while you are traveling away from home.

·       Lock all your doors, windows, garages, and sheds when you leave your home to make it difficult for burglars to enter without attracting the attention of others.

·       Test your locks for their durability by trying to open your doors and windows from the outside.

·       Install sturdy deadbolt locks on your doors to prevent thieves from breaking in easily.

·       Make your doors and windows visible to the neighborhood and to the street.

·       Cut away tree branches or high shrubbery that can hide burglars when they are breaking and entering your home.

·       Store your valuables away from windows or doors where they can easily be seen from the outside.

·       You may want to hang privacy curtains over windows to make it difficult for others to see inside.                   

·       Hide or destroy any outside trash that may advertise your personal belongings to the rest of your neighborhood.

·       For example, you may want to break down or destroy boxes that contained valuable, expensive electronic devices you may have just purchased, such as a large television or stereo system.

·       Leave spare house keys with trusted friends, family, or neighbors instead of placing them outside on your property.

·       Burglars may be familiar with common hiding places for spare keys.

·       Park your vehicles inside a closed garage if you have one to make it difficult for burglars to determine if you are home or not.

·      Install a home alarm system to deter burglars and to alarm authorities if there is a break-in.

·       Consult with your home insurance provider to seek discounts for alarm systems.

                  Stray away from routine schedules to make it more difficult for   burglars to predict when you will be absent from your home                   

·      Only use fully shielded neighbor-friendly lighting that is equipped with motion or infrared detectors. Don't create a nuisance or safety hazard with glaring lights that impair vision. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design recommends lighting that does not create glare, light trespass, or deep shadows. Lighting only has potential to act as a deterrent if witnesses are present and can counter-productively attract attention to a target and assist a burglar. FBI statistics demonstrate that the majority of residential break-ins occur during daylight hours. 

·      Alter your outside landscaping to make it difficult for burglars to navigate your property without being seen or heard.

·       You may want to surround your windows or home with loose gravel, stones, or rocks that will make noise when stepped on.

·       Place plants or shrubbery under your windows or on your property that is difficult to navigate around, such as rose bushes with lots of thorns.


    14 ways to make your home more secure

                             How to Protect Your Home When You Are Away

                   

                         

 

 

BALTIMORE - It’s unclear how these two cars ended up like
this after an early morning accident in downtown Baltimore.
The photo, Tweeted out by Firefighters Union IAFF Local 734,
shows the vehicle on top of one another near the intersection
of North Paca Street and West Fayette Street.