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January 07 2009 6:42:56 AM CST
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Personal, Family & Home Security |
A crime victim? Not me!
Steps to PREVENT burglary, snatch-theft, robbery, carjacking and other criminal acts.
What is covered here is actually quite obvious and is basically just common sense. But are you taking heed and
practising the appropriate precautions? Now, read on and convince yourself that there is nothing to worry about.
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1. Minimising Risk of Your House Being Burglarised
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- Do not publicise your "wares"
Believe it or not - but burglars also do plan their "missions". Like a military
commander who would first identify potential targets, they would make "reconnaissance"
trips around neighbourhoods to spot any worthwhile homes to focus on. One of the
target criterias is that it must assure of good returns from their risky "endeavours".
Imagine that there a 2 houses. One is pretty "open" where anyone passing the area can
see expensive things being displayed in the living rooms either via windows or the front
door. Whereas the other is quite closed in the sense where it is difficult to see the
inside of the house - as the view is blocked by not-so-light curtains, wall partitions and
the front door closed most of the times.
So, which would be targeted? Naturally, the answer would be the former.
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- Be concious about not revealing that nobody is at home
Burglars will monitor the routines of the occupants of a target to determine the best time to
strike. It may frustrate them enough (except for the really determined ones) to look for
other easier targets if they are unable to find a clear pattern or a "safe" window.
Some tell-tale signs of nobody being at home are:
- All windows are closed.
- No sign of any lights or noises.
- Pilling up of uncollected newspapers.
- Overflowing of mails in the mailbox.
- Car not in the (uncovered) porch.
- Existence of shoes at the front.
- Padlock positioning.
For first two, you can easily mislead them by doing otherwise on a random basis. Especially
to simulate human activity in the house, you can install a timer-control devices to switch on
and off lightings or electrical devices (eg. television and radio) to confuse "observers".
And if you are going on a long trip, either temporarily suspend your newspaper subscriptions
for the few days concerned or arrange with your neighbour to collect and keep the newspapers
and mails for you.
As for the absence of the car in the porch, I suppose if the house seemed "alive" with activity,
it would still fool people into thinking that some of the occupants are still at home.
Such as in the case of a car indicating the presence of owner or occupants, avoid leaving your
shoes in the open in front of the house for all to see. Always keep them in a inside hidden away
from outside view.
Avoid the habit of consistently padlocking your gate when you leave the house. And leaving it
unlocked when you are in. Also, if the padlock used is not identical in both sides (eg. the brand name
is imprinted on side), avoid placing it on one side when you lock it from outside, and the other when
locking it from the inside. It would tell of your presence at home.
- Avoid filmsy and weak barrier structures
- Install security alarm system
- Install motion detectors at each exposed side of your house
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Last update:
February 19 2005 3:26:17 AM CST
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