WSHA Neighborhood Watch:Tips for Protecting Your Home With a Burglary Prevention Checklist

The Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association (WSHA) Neighborhood Watch has been fielding questions regarding burglaries in the area. The best way to prevent your home from becoming a target is to not make it inviting to criminals.

Make your home more secure.
 
Burglars look for homes that have.

• No lights on and are dark at sunset.
• No car in the driveway.
• Doors and Windows blocked by shrubs or trees.
• Mail sticking out of the mailbox.
• Curtains closed during the day.
• Papers on the front lawn or stoop.
• Outside alarm siren boxes.
• The appearance of being unoccupied.

 Target Harden your home.

• Walk around your home and make a list of easy points of entry for an intruder.
• Take care of the problems you have listed.

 Burglary Prevention Checklist.

 Secure the outside of your home.
• Lock doors and windows when leaving the house.
• Lock rear gates when not in use.
• Do not let people know you are not home by posting on the Internet or on voice mail.
• Prune overgrown shrubs that hides windows or doors.
• Make alarm stickers visible on door and windows, they should be easily seen from the street and sidewalk.
• Keep a car in the driveway, if possible.
• Give the appearance of a guard dog. Place a big dog bowl or chain on your property. Post a beware of dog sign on entrance to yard.
• Do not leave packages in the doorway all day, arrange for a delivery time when you or a neighbor can pick them up.
• Do not Leave garbage cans at the curb all day, if your not home use garbage bags instead.

 Secure points of entry to your home.
• If possible, do not use and outside mailbox. insert a mail slot in the front door or garage.
• Install outside motion detection lights at the corners of your home.
• Do not have a front door with side glass panels, it is easy for an intruder to break the glass, reach inside and unlock the door.
• Have outside doors that are solid core or metal clad, steel doors and frames are the Most secure while hollow doors with wood frames are easily kicked in.
• Use deadbolts with a one inch throw since the mechanism is difficult to pry open.
• Ensure that sliding glass doors and windows have metal pins or a metal bar installed so that they can not be pried open.
• Set inside lights  to timers so they turn on as dusk.
• Do not place valuables in drawers in the master bedroom. This is the first place a burglar looks. Lock valuables in a attic or basement.
• Mark valuables with your drivers license number so they are easy to trace. Take pictures of valuables.
• Be alert when entering your home. If you see someone or something suspicious call 911.

Courtesy of the Nassau County Police Department.

Christopher Carini is a Trustee for the Wantagh Seaford Homeowners Association and also serves as The Director of the WSHA Neighborhood Watch

For more information on Wantagh Seaford Homeowners Association Neighborhood Watch

Join the above group on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/wantaghseafordwatch/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Or at the WSHA website at www.WSHA.LI