It is probably impossible to make your home
completely burglary proof. However, our experience has shown that there
are several preventive measures that homeowners can take to make it more
difficult for burglars to enter your home; you can discourage them before
they even attempt to force their way in.
Please read the following information
carefully, and you will find many ways to keep the "bad guys" away.
David. A. LaGrange
Chief of Police
Tiffin Police Department
CHECKLIST FOR HOMES
This checklist is designed to help you make a
security check of your own home. The purpose of a home security inspection
is to identify features in your home or daily routines of your family
which might make your home an easy target for a burglar. The security
inspection should begin at your front door, include an inspection of all
your doors and windows, locks, lights and landscaping.
DOORS:
Are all outside doors in the house of metal or
solid wood construction? Yes___No___
Are all door frames strong enough and tight
enough to prevent forcing or spreading? Yes___No___
Are door hinges protected from removal from
outside? Yes___No___
Are there windows in any door or within 40 inches
of the locks? Yes___No___
Are all door locks adequate and in good repair?
Yes___No___
Are strikes and strike plates adequate and
property installed? Yes___No___
Can the locking mechanism be reached through a
mail slot, delivery port or a pet entrance at doorway? Yes___No___
Is there a screen or storm door with an adequate
lock: Yes___No___
Are all entrances lighted with at least a 40 watt
light? Yes___No___
Can front entrance be observed from street or
public areas? Yes___No___
Does porch or landscaping offer concealment from
view from street or public areas? Yes___No___
If there is a sliding glass door, is the sliding
panel secured from being lifted out of the track? Yes___No___
Is "charley-bar" or key operated auxiliary lock
used on sliding glass door? Yes___No___
ENTRANCES FROM GARAGE AND BASEMENT
Are all entrances to living quarters from
basement of metal or solid wood? Yes___No___
Does door from garage to living quarters have
locks adequate for exterior entrance? Yes___No___
WINDOWS
Do all windows have adequate locks in operating
condition? Yes___No___
Do windows have screens or storm windows that
lock from inside? Yes___No___
Do any windows open onto areas that may be
hazardous or offer special risk to burglary? Yes___No___
Do windows that open to hazardous areas have
security screens or grills? Yes___No___
Are exterior areas to windows free from
concealing structure or land- scaping? Yes___No___
Is exterior adequately lighted at all window
areas? Yes___No___
Are trees and shrubbery kept trimmed back from
upper floor windows? Yes___No___
Are ladders kept outside the house where they are
accessible? Yes___No___
BASEMENT DOORS AND WINDOWS
Is there a door from outside to the basement?
Yes___No___
If so that door adequately security for an
exterior door? Yes___No___
Is outside basement entrance lighted by exterior
light of at least 40 watts? Yes___No___
Is outside basement door concealed from street or
neighbors? Yes___No___
Are all basement windows adequately secured
against entry? Yes___No___
GARAGE DOORS AND WINDOWS
Is automobile entrance door to garage equipped
with adequate locking device? Yes___No___
Is garage door kept closed and locked at all
times? Yes___No___
Are garage windows secured adequately for ground
floor windows? Yes___No___
Is outside utility entrance to garage as secure
as required for any ground floor entrance? Yes___No___
Are tools and ladders kept in garage? Yes___No___
Are all garage doors lighted on the outside by at
least a 40 watt light? Yes___No___
HOW TO KEEP BURGLARS
OUT--POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Garages--Should be as secure as
any other area of the house because:
A. They often contain ladders and tools which
could be helpful to a burglar.
B. Attached garages provide visual cover for a
burglary.
2. House Number--Should be clearly
displayed front and back.
3. Lights--Exterior flood lights
(front and back) and over garage are recommended. Interior-timed lighting
devices should be utilized when not at home.
4. Basement Windows--Often
overlooked by homeowners, basement windows should be secured to prevent
forcing. Window locks should not be vulnerable if the glass is broken.
Screening materials can be used effectively on these window wells or on
window framing.
5. Doors--Solid core wood doors
with rugged frames that cannot spread apart with a pry bar are
recommended.
6. Door Locks--Quality dead bolt
locks having a minimum 1-inch throw are recommended. These should be
mounted so one cannot open the door after breaking a window. Mounting the
lock low on the door can some- times eliminate this problem. In other
cases, a double cylinder lock will solve the problem.
7. Shrubs--Should be kept low
enough so as not to block possible points of entry or to conceal a
potential attacker.
8. Windows--Glass is most
vulnerable to attack. Fortunately, many burglars are reluctant to break
windows because of noise and because windows are often visible from the
street or from neighboring dwellings. Windows hidden from view must be
most securely protected!
Each question on the checklist to which you have
answered no indicate a security weakness which is a concern to us as we
seek to protect you and your property.
This information is
provided by the Tiffin Police Department
and the National Crime Prevention Council.
