Make Your
Home a Less Attractive Target for Burglars
Avoid landscaping that provides hiding places. Keep doors locked—an
obvious step that most victims have ignored. Put away ladders or
other objects that would assist a burglar in reaching an upper
window. Do you have a privacy fence? If someone got into your yard,
would the fence provide the cover for the burglar while he breaks
in?
Lights
Make a Difference
When you're away, put lights on a timer so they come on
automatically at dusk, to create the impression that you're home.
Light the exterior sides and back of your home to make hiding or
entering undetected more difficult.
Daytime
Burglaries
Burglaries are more likely to occur between the hours of 9 AM and 3
PM in the afternoon when many neighborhoods are empty. The children
are in school, adults are at work, shopping, or involved in civic
work. This is a perfect time for a burglar to go to work without
being noticed. Don't leave doors or windows unlocked, even when you
leave the house to go next door, down the block, or to the store
for just a short time. Consider changing fencing so one could be
seen in the side yard. Shadow box fencing with larger spaces does a
good job of keeping pets in while still providing some view of who
is in the yard. Iron picket or wood picket fencing is better
yet.
Practical Measures for Commercial
Security
Your
Security System Is a Proven Deterrent to Thieves &
Vandals
Train personnel on proper operation. Security systems reduce crime
in commercial settings. Businesses and institutions without alarm
systems are 4.5 times more likely to be burglarized than those that
have an alarm system (Source: Commercial Security: Burglary
Patterns and Security Measures, Metrica, Inc.). Of all uncompleted
burglaries, 74% can be credited to an audible alarm (Source:
Securing Home and Business, Hakim and Blackstone). Your alarm
system will detect and report attempts to break into secured areas.
Your system warns of fire before you can see or smell it—giving
personnel time to escape to safety. Use your system to report
medical emergencies and reduce liability—summon expert medical help
at the press of a button.
Make
Your Business a Less Attractive Target for Burglars &
Vandals
Light the entryways of your facility to make hiding or entering
undetected more difficult. Avoid landscaping that provides hiding
places. Keep doors and gates locked—an obvious step that most
victims have ignored. Put away ladders or other objects that would
assist a burglar in reaching an upper window. Do you have privacy
fencing? If someone gets into your facility, would the fence
provide cover for the thief while he breaks in?
Control
Shrinkage
Employee theft may be the most critical threat to your operation.
Provide access to assets on a need-only basis. Establish layers of
security and secure portable items with locks and lock the rooms in
which they are stored.
