Don't
Invite Burglars In
Burglary is everyone's problem
Burglary is a serious crime to which all of us are vulnerable. The chances of being burglarized ar increasing every year. According to FBI statistics, there's a residential burglary once every 15 seconds.
Burglary is probably the most preventable of crimes. The problem
is that many of us through our own carelessness, make it easier for burglars to carry out
their work. In addition, many people don't worry about it because their insurance covers
theft. We must remember insurance can never replace keepsakes or priceless family
heirlooms. And let's not forget about family security, not all burglars are just
thieves. 
If everyone would take a few simple precautions, the number of residental burglaries could be significantly reduced. Lets take a look at a few of them, there's no better way for you to give your local law envformcement agencies the support they deserve.
Make your home look occupied while your gone
 | Leave lights on when you go out. A radio playing is also a good deterrent. If you're going to be gone for a while connect some lamps to automatic timers so your lights turn on at dustk and go off at bedtime. |
| Don't allow daily deliveries to accumulate when you're gone. Cancel them in person or by phone or ask a neighbor to take in mail, papers and circulars. Never leave notes that can tip off burglars to your plans. |
| Arrange to have your lawn cut in summer and walks shoveled in winter if you're going to be away for an extended period of time. |
| Notify the police and tell them how long you'll be gone, who has a key to your home and where you can be reached. |
| Leave a key with a neighbor so that they can periodically inspect your hose. Also, ask them to vary the positions of shades and blinds day to day |
Doors
| If you can lock an outside door by pushing in a doorknob button and closing it, burglars can open it quickly with plastic objects like credit cards. You can make things tough for burglars by using deadbolt locks. |
| Lock all outside doors before you leave or go to bed. |
| Keep your garage door closed and locked. an empty garage is a good sign that no one's home. |
| Sliding glass doors are a favorite means of entry for burglars, because they are often easy to jimmy. Invest in a special lock for these doors that can give you much better security than built in locks. |
Windows
| Latches on double hung windows can be easily jimmied. Lock themsecurely by sliding bolts into holes drilled through the bottom and into the top frame. |
| Casement windows can be made more secure by replacing the lever locks with key-lockable devices. |
| Be sure that the window can still be opened easily from the inside incase of a fire. |
Other precautions
| Have a trained officer inspect you home and make suggestions on how to make it more secure. |
| Lower the bell on your telephone so the ringing can't be heard outside. |
| Never leave keys under secret hiding places. Burglars know them all |
| Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call the police immediately. |
I hope that this information has been helpful to you. If you have questions about anything at all, don't hesitate to contact me by phone, or by e-mail. I'd love to help.
Angela Burdick CRS, GRI, ABR |
|
| Call Me: Office: (833) 738-1380 Direct: (303) 886-1900 Email: angela@DenverRealEstateNow.com | |
