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A break-in can rob you of valuable possessions in minutes and leave you with psychological scars for years. Take precautions to ensure your home is not an easy target for an intruder. Check your house regularly for vulnerable spots and undertake remedial action as soon as possible; see -- for typical security locks and devices, most of which are readily available at a building supply center or hardware store. Remember that home security also includes the house surrounds-locking the front door on your way out is rarely enough of a deterrent for a motivated burglar. The Safety Tips (below) listed cover basic guidelines to follow in helping to maintain household security. Specific measures to take in securing the windows and doors of your home-the openings most vulnerable to forced entry by an intruder-are presented within the section. For example, secure a sliding window or patio door using a bar lock or temporarily with a broom handle or other length of wood. Or, install nails to secure a double-hung window. When installing security locks and devices, keep in mind your need for unobstructed primary and secondary fire escape routes; call your local police or fire department for assistance in determining the security measures best suited to your home. Homeowner insurance policies typically provide basic protection against burglary and other types of theft. Update your insurance policy regularly, making sure your house and its contents are insured for an appropriate amount; usually, contents are covered for up to 50 per cent of the amount for the house. Consider adding special endorsements to your insurance policy for valuable artwork, jewelry and heirlooms. Notify your insurance agent of any upgrading in the security system of your home; in some instances, you may qualify for a discount in your insurance premium. Consult the Troubleshooting Guide (below) for procedures on preventing and handling household security emergencies; it provides you with quick-action steps to take. After a break-in, for instance, temporarily secure any damaged or broken door or window until a permanent repair can be undertaken. Or, in the event of a break-in while you are at home, avoid confronting the intruder, if possible; leave the house immediately and call the police department from the home of a neighbor. And in the event someone locked in a room requires assistance, you may have to force open a door to rescue him. Post the telephone numbers for your local police and fire departments and your insurance agent near the telephone. In most regions, dial 911 in the event of any life-threatening emergency. If you are ever in doubt about the security of your home or neighborhood, don’t hesitate to call for help; even in non-emergency situations, your local police can answer questions about the security of your home and respond to concerns about suspicious activity or noises in your neighborhood. --- SAFETY TIPS 1. Keep a hidden list of your valuable items and their serial numbers, as well as your credit cards and their account numbers. Open a safety deposit box for storing valuable items. Don’t keep large sums of cash at home. 2. Engrave the valuable items in your home with the number of your driver's license; post stickers in the doors and windows of the house warning burglars your valuable items are stamped for identification. Photograph valuable items that cannot be en graved and keep the photographs in a safe place. 3. Form a neighborhood watch group to help prevent crime. For information on how to start up a group, contact your local police department or law enforcement agency. 4. Install security locks and devices (47) judiciously throughout your home. Consult a security professional about in stalling an alarm system; if necessary, call your local police department to have one recommended. 5. Don’t hide any key to an exterior door of your house under a door mat or in any other outdoor location. When you are leaving the house, even for a short period of time, make sure all the windows and doors are closed and locked. 6. Don’t keep a key in any lock; o keep a key near each lock to ensure it can be opened quickly in the event of a fire. 7. Keep the area around each entry to your home visible from the street and well lit at night. Trim the trees and shrubs in your yard away from the windows and doors, and install outdoor lighting fixtures around the perimeter of the house. 8. Don’t leave a ladder unattended in your yard. Relocate any trellis, drainpipe or other outdoor fixture that can be climbed to gain access to an upper-story window. 9. Ensure each wooden exterior door is of solid wood. Replace any exterior door hinges with non-removable pins. 10. Keep selected lights and a radio on when you are away from home for a long period of time; use timer-extensions to turn them on and off automatically at preset times. Give a neighbor the telephone number where you can be reached. 11. Ask a reliable neighbor to check your house daily while you are away on vacation; have him park his car in your driveway. Arrange to have your lawn mowed or your driveway cleared of snow. Stop newspaper and milk deliveries and have someone collect your mail. Call your insurance agent for information on the security measures required by your homeowner insurance policy while you are absent; in some instances, failing to fulfill them may void the policy. 12. Ask your local police department to help you conduct a thorough security check of your home, identifying vulnerable spots and the, best remedial actions to take. 13. Never leave a note on an exterior door when you leave the house; it can alert a burglar to your unoccupied home. 14. If you move to a new house, have each keyed lock of the doors and windows changed as soon as possible. 15. Have your house number prominently displayed and light it at night; in the event of a household security emergency, you will want the police to be able to find your house quickly. ======= 47— Keyed security bolt---For securing Sliding window or patio door; tempered metal bolt fits into predrilled hole and locked in place. Key nearby to unlock window or door in the event of an emergency. Outdoor lighting fixture---Incandescent floodlights shed narrow cone of light; low- pressure sodium lights cast bright circle of light. Choose fixture with light-sensitive photoelectric cell that automatically turns lights on and off. Wide-angle door viewer Special wide-angle lens allows view of exterior area around door or solid wood; available in 135-, 180- and 200- degree views. Keyed sash-type window lock---For securing double-hung window with wooden frame; keyed section installed on top rail of lower window, stile section installed on bottom rail of upper window. Keep key nearby to unlock window in the event of an emergency. Hasp lock---For temporarily securing door that sits flush with jamb when closed; secured with padlock. Padlock---To secure hasp locks; use rustproof type outdoors. Security bar---For securing sliding window or patio door; hinged, adjustable metal bar fits between inside and outside frames. Alarm systems---Many types available: most emit loud noise from a bell, siren or tone generator: some have strobe light that flashes when alarm activated and may have also built-in fire sensor. Flexible hasp lock---For temporarily securing door that does not sit flush with jamb when closed; secured with padlock. Doer guard---Strong zinc-alloy door guard allows door to be opened slightly while resisting forced entry. Deadbolt lock with alarmed rim---Battery-powered unit sounds alarm when force applied to locked door. Timer extension---Can be programmed to turn lights on and off automatically at preset times. Window guard--Adjustable to fit across most windows; choose type easy to remove from interior. Keep key nearby to unlock guard in the event of an emergency. ============ TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOM [Break-in of your home suspected: door or window of house forced open; Break-in of neighbor's home suspected: door or window of house forced open; Break-in attempt of your home suspected: suspicious activity or noises outside house; Break-in attempt of neighbor's home suspected: suspicious activity or noises outside house; House vulnerable to break-in Exterior door lock broken Window broken; Locked out of house; Locked out of room; person In room requires assistance Locked out of room] PROCEDURE [Don’t enter house; Call police department immediately from home of neighbor; Enter house only when advised by police and begin insurance file: list valuables stolen and record any damage by taking photographs or using video camera; Notify insurance agent of break-in as soon as police report completed; Ask neighbors about any suspicious activity or noises and inform police of findings If necessary, temporarily secure any damaged or broken door (51) or window (52); Have any permanent repair required undertaken as soon as possible; Don’t enter house; Call police department immediately from your home; provide full address of neighbor's house; Notify neighbor of break-in as soon as possible; Ask neighbors about any suspicious activity or noises and inform police of findings; If necessary, temporarily secure any damaged or broken door (51) or window (52); Avoid confronting any intruder; Leave house immediately and call police department from home of neighbor; Re-enter house only when advised by police and begin insurance file: record any damage by taking photographs or using video camera; Notify insurance agent of break-in as soon as police report completed; If necessary, temporarily secure any damaged or broken door (51) or window (52) Have any permanent repair required undertaken as soon as possible Call police department immediately from your home; provide full address of neighbor's house; Stay on telephone and inform police of any further developments; Notify neighbor of break-in as soon as possible; If necessary, temporarily secure any damaged or broken door (51) or window (52); Follow basic safety tips to help prevent break-in Install security locks and devices judiciously; secure windows and doors; Have alarm system professionally installed; Have police department conduct security check of house; Temporarily secure door (51); Have permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible; Temporarily secure window (52); Have permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible; If exterior door lock frozen, chip any ice off lockset; heat key with match or lighter, or spray lock with commercial lock de-icer; Call locksmith; Open locked interior door (53) to rescue person. If necessary, have someone call for medical help immediately; monitor victim's vital life signs (16) Open locked interior door ( 53 Fit credit card between latch and strike plate to work door open If door hinges accessible, remove them and pry door out of frame Call locksmith ] SECURING WINDOWS AND DOORS 49a--- Installing security locks and devices. To help ensure your home is not an easy target for intruders, equip the windows and doors with security locks and devices (47). Keep in mind your emergency escape routes (63); a barred window, for example, may keep out an intruder but can obstruct your route to safety in the event of a fire. Call your local police or fire department for assistance in determining the security measures best suited to your needs and follow the guidelines below: • On each double-hung window, install a sash-mounted window lock; for greatest security, use a keyed type. Or, secure double-hung windows with nails. • To secure a sliding window or patio door, install a keyed security bolt or an adjustable bar lock (step right); as a temporary measure, use a broom handle or a length of wood (step below). • An adjustable window guard can be used to secure a window at ground level; be sure any primary (63) or secondary escape route is not obstructed. • Ensure each wooden exterior door is of solid wood; equip it with a deadbolt lock, using heavy-duty screws to fix the strike plate. As an added security measure, install an alarmed-rim type of deadbolt lock. • Install a wide-angle door viewer in each solid exterior door; as an added security measure, also install a door guard (pane 47). • Always lock the windows and doors of your house before you leave it. Don’t keep the key in any security lock or device-even if it cannot be seen from outdoors. Lock any interior door to the basement, garage or utility room, for ex ample, isolating the area from other rooms of the house. Securing a sliding window or patio door. To secure a sliding window or patio door, install an adjustable bar lock or a keyed security bolt (47); as a temporary measure, use a broom handle or a length of wood. To adjust the length of a bar lock, depress the hinge pins and separate the bar sections. Close the window or patio door and align the bar sections across it parallel to each other, one end against the inside frame and one end against the outside frame; then, depress and fit in the hinge pins. For a small adjustment to the length of the bar lock, rotate the pad at each end of it. To install the bar lock, position it against the inside and outside frames, then press down until it snaps snugly into place. 49b--- Temporarily securing a sliding window or patio door. To temporarily secure a sliding window or patio door, use a broom handle or a length of wood; for greatest security, install an adjustable bar lock (step above) or a keyed security bolt. To determine the length of the broom handle or wood needed, close the window or patio door and measure the distance along the bottom track between the inside and outside frames. Cut the broom handle or wood to length using a saw, then wedge it into place along the bottom track between the inside and outside frames, angling it into position . Securing a double-hung window. Secure a double-hung window using a sash-mounted window lock (47) or with nails. To install nails, close the window and bore a hole at each end of the top rail on the lower window about 1/2 inch from the edge. Using a drill fitted with a bit of a diameter slightly larger than a nail, bore each hole at a slight downward angle through the top rail of the lower window and about halfway into the bottom rail of the upper window ; wrap tape around the bit to know when to stop drilling. Fit a nail into each hole , letting its head protrude slightly for easiest removal; or, take out the nail using a magnet. To disguise each nail, paint it to match the color of the window frame. Installing a wide-angle door viewer. To permit you to see a caller without opening the door to him, install a wide-angle door viewer. Mark the position for the door viewer at the center of the door at a height that all family members can reach. Using a drill fitted with a bit of the same diameter as the shank of the door viewer, bore through the door at the mark . Unscrew the door viewer and fit each section into the hole from the appropriate side of the door, then screw the sections together (inset); if necessary, use a screwdriver or a coin to tighten the door viewer. As an added security measure against the forced entry of a caller, also install a door guard. TEMPORARILY SECURING A DOOR Installing a hasp lock. To temporarily secure an exterior door, install a buttress bar indoors (52). Or, secure the door with a hasp lock (47); if the door is not flush with the jamb when it’s closed, use a flexible hasp lock (step below). Close the door and position the hasp lock: the leaf section on the door and the staple section on the jamb; mark the edges of each section with a pencil. Holding the leaf section in position, mark each screw hole. Bore a hole for a screw at each mark using a drill fitted with a bit slightly smaller in diameter than the screw; mark the length of the screw on the bit with tape. Reposition the leaf section and drive in each screw with a screwdriver . Holding the staple section in position, mark its screw holes, then bore holes and drive in its screws the same way . Close the hasp lock and secure it with a padlock. Have a permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible. Installing a flexible hasp lock. To temporarily secure an exterior door, install a buttress bar indoors (52). Or, secure the door with a flexible hasp lock (47); if the door is flush with the jamb when it’s c1osed, use a standard hasp lock (step above). Close the door and position the flexible hasp lock: the leaf section on the jamb and the staple section on the door; if the door has a stop, follow the same procedure as using a flexible hasp lock with an additional hinged plate. Mark the edges of each section with a pencil. Holding the leaf section in position, mark each screw hole. Bore a hole for a screw at each mark using a drill fitted with a bit slightly smaller in diameter than the screw; mark the length of the screw on the bit with tape. Reposition the leaf section and drive in each screw with a screwdriver . Holding the staple section in position, mark each bolt hole, then bore a hole for a bolt at each mark using a drill fitted with a bit of the same diameter as the bolt. Reposition the staple section, fit a bolt into each hole, and install a washer and a nut on each bolt; tighten the nuts with a wrench. Close the hasp lock and secure it with a padlock . Have a permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible. 52a-- Installing a buttress bar. To temporarily secure an exterior door, use a hasp lock (51) or install a buttress bar indoors. To determine the length of the buttress bar needed, close the door and measure the distance between the doorknob and the floor, then add 12 inches. Mark a 2-by-4 to the length needed for the buttress bar and use a saw to cut it to length ; then, mark and cut a V-shaped notch at one end of it. Position the buttress bar against the door with its notch wedged snugly under the doorknob. Then, cut another 2-by-4 to use as a stopper perpendicular to the buttress bar. Position the stopper on the floor against the base of the buttress bar and secure it in place with nails . Have a permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible. 52b— 1. Removing glass fragments. To temporarily secure a broken window, install a plywood panel indoors across the opening. Wearing work gloves and safety goggles, first remove any shards of glass protruding from the window frame. Working from the top to the bottom of the window, carefully pull each shard straight out of the frame ; gently wiggle any stubborn shard free. Place the shards in a cardboard box or another unbreakable container for safe disposal. 2. Preparing the plywood panel. To determine the size of the plywood panel needed, measure the length and width of the opening, then add 8 to 12 inches to each dimension. Mark a 1-inch plywood panel to the length and width needed, then cut it to size using a circular saw. To direct the saw, use a straight 2-by-4 or other board as a guide, clamping or nailing it in place along the outer edge of the baseplate. Push the saw slowly along the cutting mark, keeping the baseplate against the guide . 53a--- 3. Installing the plywood panel. Position the plywood panel across the opening, overlapping it by 4 to 6 inches on each side; if necessary, work with a helper to support the plywood panel. To hold the plywood panel in position, drive nails through it and partway into the trim hind it . Then, install the plywood panel with screws. Using a drill fitted with a bit of diameter slightly smaller than a screw, bore a hole every 18 to 24 inches along each side of the plywood panel at least 1/2 inch from the edge ; mark the length of a screw on the bit with tape. Secure the plywood panel in place by driving a screw into each hole with a screwdriver. Have a permanent repair undertaken as soon as possible. FREEING SOMEONE FROM A LOCKED ROOM (53b)--- Opening a locked interior door. To rescue a person locked in a room, first check the doorknob for an access hole to the locking mechanism. If there is an access hole in the doorknob, push a nail, awl, baking pin, knitting needle or other long, thin implement straight into it and turn the doorknob back and forth until the spring-loaded pin of the locking mechanism releases and the door opens. If there is no access hole in the doorknob, use force to break open the door as a last resort in an emergency situation. Using the flat of one foot, kick the door sharply just below the doorknob until it opens; or, sit on the floor and kick the door the same way with both feet. Previous: Hazardous Materials |