Over the next few weeks, we are going to be talking about securing your home from criminal intruders. I am glad that the picture on my last post gave some people a chuckle, it was not meant to be indicative of what you need to do to secure your home (yet). Of course, if we got to a situation of complete anarchy and widespread starvation/looting then even this would not be enough because the criminals would probably just set our house on fire.
I am looking to protect myself, and help you protect yourself, from the common criminal who wants what you have in your home.
With so many people without jobs, and so many people feeling that they deserve whatever they can take, it has led to an increase in home burglaries and car break-ins in many areas…
Criminals are not all stupid, they will tend to go after less defended homes and neighborhoods before they go after well-defended ones. So, if you don’t already have one in place you should help your neighborhood set up a Neighborhood Watch program. The one in our area is called C.O.P.S. and we are sent emails whenever there is a break-in that occurs in our general area. This is also the place where suspicious vehicles and door-knockers are reported and tracked. Many break-ins are begun with a person dressed as a contractor in work clothes knocking on the front door of a residence. If the party is home, he says he is mistaken and moves on.
If the homeowner does not answer they know that the home is vacant, and they can case the house and look for a vulnerable point to break-in. (we will discuss how to minimize these vulnerable points in the days ahead).’
Having a Neighborhood watch program gets the entire community aware of the crime in their midst so that they can have the proper awareness. It also gives a place to report suspicious activity for patterns and so that the police can be alerted. If a contractor knocks on the “wrong door” in our neighborhood, there is a good chance this would be immediately reported and the police could intervene.
For help starting a Neighborhood program, check out www.nnwi.org or www.usaonwatch.org
Three more things-
1. Talk with your neighbors when you will be gone for more than a day and let them know your plans… They can be alert for people that might pose as movers stealing all your stuff.
2. Don’t let your kids post on Facebook, etc. that you are going on a Cruise tomorrow and will be gone for a week. This has led to numerous break-ins. Keep these details to yourself till after your trip.
3. Leave some lights on (with timers if possible to turn them on and off simulating activity). Maybe leave a radio playing quietly. Leave external floodlights on as well…
And make sure that you lock your house (DEADBOLTS, not just the pass locks) when you leave. And lock your cars in your driveway. Seems obvious, but many people don’t do it…
Part Two will continue this discussion…
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Great advice. I went to join our local neighbourhood watch only to find out that the stickers around the place were from a few years ago and no such group existed. Still I know my immediate neighbours and a few down the street. The knocking on the door thing bothers me so will have to form a good group.
Keri Eagan
Alternative*Insight
I heard of neighborhood watch but I didn’t know it was a network of people looking out for each other.
Jose Escalante
http://www.joseescalante.com
I disconnect the car battery. Have a friend stop by now and then to check on the place.(water the plants etc)
Know your Neighbors.
These are some really great points. I was surprised to hear that fb postings have led to break-ins, but it makes sense. People tend to overestimate the security of their homes and underestimate criminals.
MissMentor
Hi Rob,
good thing so many in my biz circle we frequently work from home. And we KNOW our contractors and who is normal around here.
I’m with Kate from yesterday about firepower!
Excellent points about Social Media!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Great advice!
Martin O’Connor
http://smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
Having an alarm and make it visible helps the poor burglar select other homes with no alarms.
Always make you home looks like someone is inside also helps.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Hi Rob – good advice on neighborhood watches. Although we live in the country we still let our neighbors know when we will be gone.
We also have our grown children stop to pick up mail and check the house. With their coming and goings it is never the same time so I think that makes a difference to.
Vicki http://www.bridal-threads.com
Good advice for a first line of defence.
Having great neighbours is a huge help – a kind of natural neighbourhood watch.
http://www.martin-wright.com
Strategies For Success
It is illegal to hand out fliers in my neighborhood so there’s no “foot traffic.” If someone wanders around or starts to distribute . . . they are picked up and escorted out of the are faster than you can say wh…
Now, if a neighborhood kid goes door to door selling candy, that’s different. It’s amazing how easy it is to tell.
If your neighborhood does not pick up these folks, watch out for the kids selling newspaper subscriptions.
Katie
Rob,
Great info on a very important topic.
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
Neighborhood watch is always a great idea. Community is the answer to a lot of problems.
Steve
This is a common problem in my area. It is a very wealthy town but usually very quiet. Many people have never locked their doors. A lot more people are now due to numerous break-ins.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitter in your area