Having a home burglarized is a violating experience for the homeowner and their neighbors. Especially if your neighborhood does not experience burglaries or other crimes on a regular basis. After all, often that is why we choose a house to live in- a place where we can feel safe.
There are things you can do to prevent a burglar from entering
your home, or at least make it harder for a potential burglar to enter your
home.
The first thing to understand is that burglaries are crimes of
opportunity. Burglars look for targets that they think will be easy to enter,
grab a few things, then leave quickly without getting caught. Burglars do not
like to get caught. Part of the risk assessment that they make is if the home
has features that make it easy for someone to see what they are doing and then
call the cops. So, if there is a sign saying the home is protected by a
security system they will move on to another home.
Another indicator is if the home can be easily seen from the
street. If the landscaping is overgrown obscuring the front of the house, then
the burglar can hide their activity from casual passersby who could call 911 if
they see something suspicious. Also, if the area around the house is not neat
and picked up, the burglar may be more motivated to enter the house. Having a
ladder stored outside of the house, for example, only gives the burglar a tool
that he could use to enter a bedroom on the second floor.
A factor in getting caught is if someone is at home. When burglars
look at a potential target, they will look for clues that there is no one at
home. Blinds or curtains are open. Are there any noises such as a TV or radio
playing? Some burglars will knock on the door. If someone answers, they will
make an excuse such as looking for someone in the neighborhood, then move on to
the next target. After all, there have been cases when an enraged homeowner
catches a burglar in the home and shoots the burglar.
Ease of entering a house is also important. If a burglar cannot
enter quickly or easily, they will move on to another house. One point of entry
is the front door. Burglars will kick in the front door. One way to defeat a
burglar at the front door is to use a dead bolt lock. Also, check the screws in
the strike plate in the door frame. Many homes when they are built have strike
plate screws that are under 3 to 4 inches long. Doors with screws that short
are easy to kick in. Make sure the screws at the strike plate are at least 3 to
4 inches long and go deep into the door frame.
Burglars can go around to the side of the house or to the back,
especially if you have a six-foot, sight obscuring cedar fence, and enter your
house through a side door or a back window. So be sure your side and back doors
also have 3 to 4 screws in the strike plate. If you have a sliding glass door,
a charley bar or dowl in the bottom track can help prevent a forced entry. Of
course they can break a window. Placing a clear plastic film (check with your
local hardware store) over your windows can help prevent a burglar from
breaking one of your windows.
A security system can be a good idea to alert you, a monitoring
service, and/or your neighbors that you have an intruder in your home. Be sure
that your system has a loud external speaker that makes a loud siren that your
neighbors can hear when you have an intruder. While monitoring services can be
fast in alerting the police, many police say that the fastest most sure way to
getting a police officer out to your home in time to catch the burglar is when
a neighbor calls 911 and tells police that they see the burglar in action at
your home. That way they know that the alarm is not a false alarm.
Cameras can help show what is going on, especially now with the
capability to see the video on our phones. They can also help local police in
identifying potential suspects to your burglary. Place cameras at points of
ingress and egress. For example, with a view of your driveway to show people
coming and going from your property. Also, views of your front door and back
door to show people going into and out of your house. Where you can, place
cameras inconspicuously at head level to get the best view of a person’s face.
Cameras placed above head level can easily be obscured with a hat. Be familiar
with your system. If you are burglarized, you will be traumatized, and you
probably will be angry. Knowing how your system works will help you turn over
any evidence of the crime more easily. Play with your system from time to time
to ensure that you know how it works.
Be sure to develop good crime habits. Get into the habit of
locking all of your doors and windows when you leave your house. Also get into
the habit of arming your alarm system as you leave. This way you are using your
key security devices to protect your home while you are away.
Here are some local resources with more information on home
burglary prevention tips.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:
https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6948
https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7014
https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7033
