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Crime – Security Home

Crime Prevention Tips

Home Security

Carelessness accounts for nearly 20% of all house robberies in New South Wales.

In some cases thieves had only to turn a key left in the lock. Others had only to look under the doormat or another of those favourite “hiding places” to find the key.

 
REMEMBER, a lock is not a lock unless you use it.
 
The object of securing your home properly is to deter thieves. A determined thief may still get in, but by taking a few relatively simple precautions you can greatly slow the thief down and thus increase his chances of being caught.

Household burglaries involve three factors: The Victim, The (Criminal) Desire, and The Opportunity. The first two are constant. Neighbourhood Watch seeks to reduce the opportunity.

Being insured is not enough!

No insurance policy can replace personal items such as family photographs.

 
Remember
 

  • Break ins do occur when people are at home asleep, watching television, etc.
  • Assaults do occur in the home.

 
Some simple precautions
 
If you take the precautions outlined below, a would be thief will quickly see what he or she is up against and probably look for an easier target. Be aware of the need to protect your home and yourself at all times.

 

  • Good quality deadlocks on all perimeter doors and key operated locks on sliding doors.
  • Key operated locks on all windows more vulnerable windows can be fitted with steel security grilles.
  • Good quality interior security grilles on skylights.
  • Garage and other exterior buildings (workshops, garden shed, etc) secured with padlocks.
  • Exterior lighting an effective deterrent.
  • An intruder alarm system.
  • A torch and drill resistant floor safe (set in concrete).
  • Time switches to turn on/off lights, radio, etc, while you are absent from the home.
  • Display your house number clearly to enable emergency vehicles to find your house easily.
  • Lock away tools, ladders and other implements which a thief could use to break into your home.
  • Never leave notes which a thief could read (to the milkman, family, friends, etc).
  • Don’t leave keys in “hiding places” around the house for a thief to find.
  • Keep valuable documents in a bank, with a solicitor, etc.
  • Don’t leave your house keys with your car keys when having your vehicle serviced or when using a parking station.

 
When going away
 

  • Don’t close blinds, curtains, etc., that are normally left open; make the house look “lived in”.
  • Arrange for a neighbour to change the curtains around and generally give the house a “lived in” appearance.
  • Cancel milk, bread and newspaper deliveries.
  • Stop your mail at the local Post Office and arrange for a neighbour to clear your letterbox of any other material daily.
  • Arrange for a neighbour to mow your lawn if you are going to be absent for any length of time.
  • Let your local police know you will be absent, and who has the key.
  • Let a responsible person know where you are going and how to contact you in case of an emergency.

 
Motor vehicles
 

  • Never leave your keys in the vehicle, motorcycle, etc, even in your own garage.
  • Never leave your registration papers or driver’s licence in the vehicle.
  • Never leave valuables in view.
  • Avoid parking in quiet or secluded areas.
  • Install a good quality alarm system.

 
REMEMBER, they who do nothing to prevent crime encourage it!

 

See Something, Hear Something, Say Something!
Call Crime Stoppers

1800 333