Many homeowners feel
that crime will never impact their household, however,
there are never
any guarantees. Houses that are vulnerable to
burglary and theft are running the risk of inviting
crime. Often by taking very simple steps, a homeowner
can raise the level of security at home. Below are some
helpful home security tips for homeowners:
-
Never leave clues that you are away on a trip.
Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers
while you are away so delivered items do not
accumulate. As an added precaution you can submit a
Property Check Form
to the Andover Township Police
Department by calling Police Headquarters at (973)
383-5544 or by going to the
Property Check Request
page.
- Keep all doors and windows closed and securely
fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation
for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak
locks that may easily be forced open. Doors should
have deadbolt locks with a 1' throw and reinforced
strike plate 3' inch screws. All windows should have
window locks.
- Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or
piece of plywood in the track and install vertical
bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing
the door open and lifting it off the track.
- Create the illusion that you are home by using
timers on lights, radios and TVs. Making your
residence appear occupied, even when no one is home;
this could deter criminals.
- Keep the perimeter of your home well lit.
Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a
cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as
highlight a house.
- Always keep your vehicles locked! This is the best
way to prevent your vehicle from being burglarized.
- Never leave a message on your telephone answering
machine telling people that you are away from home. A
message that you will return at a certain time will
leave your home vulnerable to burglars.
- Lock up your home, even if you go out only for a
short time. Many burglars just walk in through an
unlocked door or window.
- Change all the locks and tumblers when you move
into a new house or if you lose your keys.
- Before turning your house key over to a
professional house cleaner for several hours, make
sure the person is honest and reputable as well as
hardworking. Check all references thoroughly. If the
house cleaner is from a firm, call your local Better
Business Bureau to check on the firm's reputation.
- Instead of keeping a spare key in a mailbox, under
the doormat, or on a nail behind the garage, put a key in a 35mm film can and
bury it where you can easily find it if you need it.
- Dogs are good deterrents to burglars. Even a
small, noisy dog can be effective. Burglars do not
like to have attention drawn to their presence.
- Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't
rely on your automatic garage door opener for security
- Talk to your neighbors about any suspicious people
or strange cars you notice lurking about. An alert
community is a safe community!
