What can you do to prevent yourself from victimization?

  • Always lock the door attached to the garage
  • Always lock outside doors
  • Use solid core or metal door at entrance points
  • Use a heavy-duty deadbolt with a one inch throw bolt
  • Use a quality knob-in-lock set with dead latch mechanism
  • Use a heavy duty strike plate with 3 inch screws into the frame
  • Use a wide angle peephole
  • When moving into a new house or apartment, always change all the door locks
  • Upgrade to a heavy duty strike plate
  • Store any lock boxes or safes in hidden areas of the house
  • Keep all personal information in a locked safe
  • Close curtains or blinds to prevent burglars from taking inventory of your belongings
  • Store tools which could be used to assist burglars (ladders etc.) in a garage or shed
  • Replace old keypad locks so the worn down buttons do not give away your combination
  • Don’t put family name on the mailbox or house
  • Avoid talking about vacation plans in public areas
  • Keep windows locked