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Police Department
Crime Prevention Tips >
Look at your home as a burglar would. Is there anyone home? Since most home burglaries are committed by amateur opportunists who won't risk confrontation, it is most important to make your home appear and sound occupied at all times. Inexpensive timers can be purchased that will automatically turn lights and a radio on and off. The 'At Home' look is the single most important thing you can do to prevent a burglary.
Always close and lock your garage doors. A dark house with an open garage and no car around is an open invitation to burglar or would-be thief. Be sure to make a habit of locking the home while away, at night, or while at home.
Join Operation Identification. Engrave your Wisconsin driver's license number on easily carried away items of value. The Police Department will loan you an engraver and provide you with window decals free of charge. No burglar or thief wants to be caught with items marked in this manner. If your items are stolen and then recovered by police anywhere in the United States, a police computer can quickly and easily identify them.
Dead bolt locks should be installed on all exterior doors. But remember, locks must be used if they are to be of any value. Contact a locksmith, hardware dealer, or the Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit for more information. We can also advise you on methods to secure windows.
Other things you can do to secure your home:
- When leaving your home for an extended period, do everything you can to make your home look occupied. Have a trusted neighbor check your home.
- It is very important to have your mail and newspapers picked up or stopped while you are away. Have someone cut the grass and shovel the snow.
- House numbers should be visible day and night from the street. Names should not be displayed on the mailbox
- Make sure your doors and windows are not hidden by shrubbery. Deny the burglar the opportunity to work undetected.
- Be sure to re-key your locks when moving into a new home or apartment.
- Avoid hiding an extra key in a secret location. A burglar knows the hiding spots and will look there for spare keys.
- Always be careful about admitting strangers. Identification should always be required before opening the door. A wide angle door viewer is an absolute must if visibility of callers is not possible.
- Never leave portable items such as bicycles, tools, and ladders lying around where they may be easily stolen. Secure or store them inside the locked garage.
- Illuminate all entrances to the house with exterior lights.
- Use solid core doors for all exterior doors.
- Sliding glass doors should be secured with auxiliary locks or pinned. Screws can be installed in the tracks to prevent the removal of sliding glass doors.
- Windows can be secured with auxiliary keyed locks or pinned with a nail.
There are many new security devices on the market that can greatly increase your home security. Home Security Surveys are available free of charge through the Police Department's Crime Prevention Bureau.
