How to feel safe and secure in your home again.

BREAK & ENTER BASICS 

Most entries happen during the day when the homeowners are not home. Thieves are attracted to homes that look like the owner is away (papers or snow on the drive, house not lit at night).

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS

It is important that you address and correct anything that may have given the thief the impression that you were away. This includes putting at least one light on a timer which is visible from the front of the house.

Next, it is critical that you IMPROVE your security while making any necessary repairs. For doors, this means installing a good quality, 1 inch dead bolt lock with a 4 hole (or more) “security strike plate” installed with at least 2 ½ inch screws that penetrate the wall studs.

For sliding windows and patio doors this means installing a secondary locking device or placing a stick in the bottom track and in the maintenance gap located on the top of the frame of the sliding part of the window or door. Once this is done, you can reassure your family that the house is now more secure than it was prior to the break-in.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS

• Lock any gates in and around your property
• Tell neighbours to watch for suspicious activity
• Hide/lock up valuables
• Check out sightlines around your property
• Remove/reduce overgrown shrubbery in front ofaccessible windows and doors
  

BEFORE CONSIDERING AN ALARM

Some people feel that alarms will protect them. It is important to remember that most burglaries happen during the day when home owners are away.

If you still want to consider an alarm, have the provider install a bell box with flashing strobe light on a corner of the house that is visible to the street. This will discourage thieves and potentially alert neighbours which may result in a higher priority being assigned to a call.