Generally, people buy or rent homes with little if any consideration for security. Traditionally, homes have been built with higher priority given to convenience, comfort, and appearance rather than security.
Through experience gained while investigating burglaries, law enforcement officers are familiar with the most common security weaknesses in homes and apartments. With proper training, they can become qualified to educate citizens in recognizing and correcting these weaknesses. The law enforcement officer has the responsibility to show the citizen the most practical and cost effective security strategies.
Citizens, too, have an equal responsibility in crime prevention. Although no one should have to live in a fortress, citizens must be made aware that they can reduce crime by reducing criminal opportunity. Even though there is no way to make homes impenetrable, there are ways to slow down the average burglar. Unlocked doors and windows, easily defeated locks, and general disregard for security habits are often open invitations to the burglar. It is the citizen's responsibility to implement the security strategies recommended to them by the law enforcement officer and correct the security weaknesses that criminals perceive as opportunities.
A home security survey offers the opportunity for the law enforcement officer to assist the homeowner or apartment resident in locating security weaknesses and identifying practical ways to correct them.
If you live in the Wilkens Precinct and would like a Home Security Survey, please contact the Wilkens Precinct Community Outreach Office at 410-744-1584 for an appointment. Or E-Mail our office at pc01cot@yahoo.com. This service is free of charge.
Effective home security can be achieved through three phases.
Neighborhood Watch: Simply neighbors looking out for neighbors. Report all suspicious persons, vehicles and activities to police.
Operation Identification: Marking all valuable property by engraving your Maryland driver's License number on the property. This acts as a deterrent and helps police return stolen property. Display and print the Property Indentification List Here (PDF).
Security Survey: Points out weaknesses in your home's security allowing you to take corrective measures to help avoid becoming a victim.
By following the recommendations in the above programs, the security of your home can be increased thus reducing the chances of a break-in.
Front Doors
All exterior doors should be either metal or solid core wood. All exterior doors must be at least 1 3/4" Thick!
All solid doors should be equipped with a wide angle door viewer of 190 degrees or more.
Doors that have locks within 40 inches of glass should be equipped with a double cylinder dead bolt lock. This prevents intruders from reaching in after breaking the glass to unlock the door from the inside.
Door Locks
Key-in-knob latch: The majority of doors are equipped with a standard key-in-knob latch which provides little or no security. Note the term "Latch" not lock. These devices have a spring which holds a latch in place. These latches are easily defeated by wrenching the knob with hands or vice grips, using credit cards to slip the spring latch, kicking the door, or spreading the frame.
Key-in-knob with Anti-Shim Device: Some manufactures add security features such as anti-shim devices on the key-in-knob latches. If properly installed, these devices may prevent slipping the bolt with a card. However the knob can be easily wrenched off or the jamb can be spread to release the short spring bolt.
Chain Latch: Provides false security. They are easily forced off by kicking door.
Single Cylinder Tubular Deadbolt: Key operated from the outside only. The interior operation is a thumb turn. This lock is used where there is no glass within 40 inches of the lock.
Double Cylinder Tubular Deadbolt: Keyed both exterior and interior. Should be used on doors where glass within the door is 40 inches or closer to the lock. Important, when home is occupied, the key should be readily available so that fast exits are possible in the event of emergencies.
Minimum 1" bolt throw
1/4" case hardened bolts
Free spinning beveled cylinder guards constructed of case hardened steel
Strike Plates
The weakest point of a good lock may be the strike plate, which secures the bolt when the door is locked. Because of the way the frame is constructed, the strike plate must be reinforced. Thin gauge metal strike plates should be replaced with heavy duty strike plates secured with number 12 three inch wood screws. Most older strike plates are secured by two half inch screws.
Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors and windows offer the intruder several means of entry. These include prying the doors open with a screwdriver or pry bar, lifting the door or window out of the track, or simply breaking the glass. You can help prevent this by:
Using screws or a piece of wood attached to the top of the track to take up the space above the sliders preventing the slider from being lifted out of the track. A Charlie Bar or similar device should be used to prevent the door from being pried open. A simple piece of wooden dowel cut the length between the door and frame and placed on the bottom track will prevent door from being pried open.
Window Security
Security devices for windows vary, depending on the type of window and its location.
Crescent Latch: The crescent latch found on double hung windows is not a security device. It's function is to keep the upper and lower windows together. A keyed crescent latch is not to be considered a security device either.
There are several methods available to secure double hung windows. Key locks which pin the upper and lower sashes together are available. Two other inexpensive methods are Pinning the window or using a wooden dowel cut to fit between the top of the bottom sash to the top frame. Make sure none of your homes windows are blocked by shrubbery or trees. Especially lower basement windows.
Lighting
Each entrance should be illuminated with a 40 watt bulb or higher. There are several different types of outdoor lighting that can be installed. Some are photoelectric which turns on automatically at dusk and off at daybreak. Motion detectors turn lights on when someone walks through a infrared beam. Inexpensive timers can be purchased and installed in your home. These timers can be set to turn on and off lights throughout your home when you are not present thus giving the appearance that someone is home.
If you live in the Wilkens Precinct and would like to hold a Community Block meeting or have any further questions please contact the Wilkens Community Outreach Unit at 410-744-1584.
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Revised March 6, 2006
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