Residential Burglary Prevention
Burglary victims often feel vulnerable and violated as their personal space has been
invaded. Residential burglaries statistically occur during the day while families are
at work or school. The most common entry technique is a hard kick to the door,
forcing the wooden jamb to give way. Household tools like hammers, screwdrivers,
pry bars and pliers may be used to gain entry into your home.
Unfortunately, it is hard to catch burglars in the act and harder to catch them after the fact. While residential
burglaries seem random in nature, there is a simple selection process. Unoccupied homes with easy or
concealed access and quick escape routes are targeted. Once inside burglars look for small expensive
items that are easily traded for cash. Favorite items include cash, jewelry, laptops, CD/DVD players, game
consoles, watches, guns and small electronic devices.
Protect yourself and make your home a less likely target with the following ideas:
Ways To Discourage Burglars:
Personal Information:
• Keep valuables in a safe deposit box.
• Use a locking mailbox.
• Complete Operation ID and display the window stickers.
Dealing With Strangers:
• Never let strangers enter your home.
• Verify workers by ID cards and calling their employer.
• Never give keys to workers.
• Never leave notes for anyone on the door.
While On Vacation:
• Hire a house sitter.
• Ask neighbors to help with your trash bins and newspaper.
• Install a UL approved and monitored residential alarm
system.
• Park a neighbor’s car in your driveway.
• Use timers on indoor lights to give the impression you are
home.
• Deliver merchandise to neighbor’s house.
• Ask neighbors to watch your house while you are gone.
Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to call 911.
Start a BLOCK WATCH group in your neighborhood!
Bright Ideas:
• Install lights by all exterior doors. Use lights at night.
• Install outside light fi xtures where bulbs are hard to reach.
• Illuminate house numbers for quick emergency services
response.
• Trim shrubs back from doors and windows. Don’t give
burglars places to hide.
Vehicle Smarts:
• Close the garage door and cover windows so no one can see
inside.
• Leave only the ignition key with parking lot attendants - if
required.
• Hide the garage door opener from open view in your car.
Doors & Windows:
• Change the locks when moving into a new residence.
• Always lock your doors and windows.
• Give your neighbor the spare key – Don’t hide it outside.
• Use solid core or metal exterior doors.
• Install four-screw strike plates with three-inch screws to
penetrate the wood door frame.
• Use dead bolt door locks on exterior doors and double-
cylinder dead bolt locks if glass is within 3 feet of the lock.
• Add auxiliary track-type locks, removable drop bars,
wooden dowels, or pinning devices to windows and sliding
glass doors.
• Install peepholes on doors with 160 degree views.
• Upgrade locks to defeat bump keying.
Landscaping:
• Trim tree branches 7 feet off the ground.
• Prune shrubs to under 3 feet from the ground.
• Use motion sensors and photocells on exterior fl oodlights.
For emergencies, call 911
Make safety a habit.
Security starts at the curb.
Lock your home at all times.
Create a Block Watch group.
02-10
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www.ci.lake-stevens.wa.us
cbrooks@ci.lake-stevens.wa.us
Lake Stevens Police Department
