Protecting Your Home:Locks,
Lights and Good Neighbors
One of the crimes most frequently reported to the police is
residential burglary. It's also the most preventable. It doesn't
take much or cost much to out-smart most burglars. They're usually
not professionals, but rather people taking advantage of an easy
target. Burglars may do more than steal things. If they're surprised
by someone coming home or if they choose a home that's occupied,
someone may get hurt.
Tips on Safeguarding Your Home
- Make sure all exterior doors
have good locks-at least dead-bolt locks with a 1" throw.
- Always lock up when you go out,
even if only for a few minutes.
- Secure sliding glass doors with
bars or locks, or put a broom handle in the door track.
- Make sure your windows have good
locks, especially those at ground level.
- Make sure all porches,
entrances, and outside areas are well lit.
- Trim any bushes or trees that
hide doors or windows.
- Maintain your yard and keep
ladders and tools inside when you're not using them.
- Don't hide your keys under the
doormat or in a flowerpot. That's the first place burglars look!
It's much better to give an extra key to a trusted neighbor.
- Mark your valuable property like
TVs, VCRs, computers, cameras and stereos with your driver's
license number.
- Keep a record of your property
in a safe place.
- Install an alarm system for
summoning emergency help.
- If you park your car outside,
never leave a garage door opener in the car.
When you go away
- Ask a neighbor to collect your
mail and newspapers, and offer to return the favor.
- Put an automatic timer on at
least two lights and a radio. Consider photoelectric sensors to
turn outside lights on and off automatically.
- Tell a trusted neighbor when
you're leaving and when you'll return. Include an itinerary and
phone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.
Neighbors Helping
Neighbors
There's more to crime prevention than locks and lighting. The fact
is, concerned neighbors who watch out for each other are the
front-line defenses against crime.
- Get to know your neighbors and
discuss your concerns about the neighborhood.
- Be alert to things that invite
crime like poor street lighting, boarded-up buildings, a lack of
recreational activities or jobs for teens, vacant lots littered
with debris and inadequate day-care and after-school programs.
Work with law enforcement, civic groups, schools, churches and
service clubs to solve the problems.
- Alert law enforcement to
suspicious activities and any crimes.
- Report nonworking street lights,
abandoned houses and other problems.
- Join a Neighborhood Watch group.
If there's no Watch organization in your neighborhood, start one
with help from local law enforcement and community groups.
Joining a Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch, Block Watch,
Town Watch, Crime Watch-whatever the name, it's one of the most
effective and least costly ways to prevent crime and reduce
fear. Neighborhood Watch fights the isolation that crime both
creates and feeds upon. It forges bonds among area residents,
helps reduce burglaries and robberies, and improves relations
between police and the communities they serve.
A few concerned residents, a community organization or a law
enforcement agency can spearhead the effort to organize a Watch.
Members learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for
each other and the neighborhood, and report activities that
raise their suspicions to the police or sheriff's office.
Watch groups are not vigilantes. They are extra eyes and ears
for reporting crime and helping neighbors. Neighborhood Watch
helps build pride and serves as a springboard for efforts that
address community concerns such as recreation for youth, child
care, and affordable housing.
Moving
Thoughts
Whether moving takes you across town or across country, it can be a
very busy time.
The stresses of the move itself
are usually compounded by worries of what life will be like in
your new home or town; but, it can also be an exciting time of
renewed opportunities and fresh experiences! Statistics show
that each year one out of every five families moves. They
survive the upheaval-and so can you!
Organization-not only physically,
but mentally-is important to maintain. A good way to start is by
sorting through your "stuff." Pare down your belongings by
having a garage sale or by donating items you no longer need to
charity. Then decide whether to move yourself or hire
professionals. Each method has pros and cons, and both require
comparison shopping.
The
Trivia Block
On average, dwellings in Japan have about 989 square feet of floor
space per household. |
