Residential Security

RESIDENTIAL SECURITY

Residential Security – Basics

The Sanibel Police Department is concerned about the security of your home. By following the suggestions in this pamphlet, we hope that your home will become less of a target for a burglar. The key areas of concern for residential security are doors, windows, landscaping, lighting, and alarms.

Are exterior doors made of a solid core construction (including the door leading from the garage to the house)?

Hinge Doors: The most common door type used in homes and apartments is the hinge door. It is important that all exterior doors be of solid wood core construction or steel clad doors. Avoid light gauge aluminum. Hollow core or composition board doors are not effective deterrents because they can be easily battered or bored. It is defeating the purpose of a good deadbolt lock to mount it on a hollow or foam core door.

Hinge Pins: If door hinges are exposed on the exterior of the door, non-removable hinge pins should be used. To prevent removal of a door that has removable hinge pins, you can employ a headless screw or nail. Drill two holes opposite each other in the center of both leaves of the hinge. Insert headless screw or nail into the leaf on the door frame side. Allow the screw or nail to protrude ½ inch. When the door is closed, the screw will engage the other hinge leaf.

Do your door frames fit snugly around your exterior doors?

Door Frame: Inspect door frames and repair any splitting or rotting. Wooden frames should be at least two inches thick. If a hollow steel frame is used, the residual air space behind the frame should be filled with a crush resistant material such as cement grout. This will prevent an intruder from wedging a crowbar between the door and frame to free the door. You can strengthen the frame by removing some of the short screws in the door hinges and lock striker and replacing them with longer screws.

Is there a viewer on the front door?

Peephole Viewer: The front door should have a wide angle viewer installed. This gives you easy viewing without opening the door.

Are sliding glass doors secured with auxiliary locks or pins?

Sliding Glass Doors: Sliding glass doors are frequent points of entry for burglars. The locks they come equipped with can usually be quickly pried open. The doors can also be easily removed from their tracks unless they are properly secured with pins. Slide bars are often used to prevent the doors from being opened.

Do you have jalousie doors?

Jalousie Doors: Jalousie doors provide poor security. Entry can be easily gained by removal of panels of glass. The best solution is to replace these doors with solid core or steel doors. If this is not feasible, the doors can be covered on the inside with heavy gauge mesh carriage bolted to the door.

Double Doors: The inactive door should be pinned on both the top and bottom.
All Exterior Doors: All exterior doors should be equipped with a one-inch dead bolt lock. A locksmith should be consulted to determine the best locking systems for both windows and doors.

Chain Latch: This is not a security device and should never be relied upon.

Does your shrubbery follow the 4-7 Rule?

Landscaping: Landscaping decisions should be based on not hindering the visibility and natural surveillance of the residence from the road and neighboring homes. Shrubbery should be trimmed to no higher than four feet and tree limbs and branches no lower than seven feet from the ground. Landscaping can provide hiding places for the criminal element. Certain thorny plantings near windows can reduce that area from being a potential entry point for a burglar.

Do exterior lights illuminate all entrances to your home?

Lighting: Properly placed lighting can be an effective deterrent to crime. Motion sensor light fixtures are effective, as well as those lighting systems that come on at night.

Is your alarm system routinely serviced and maintained?

Alarm systems: The installation, correct usage, maintenance and monitoring of a home alarm system can improve residential and home security. There are two types of intruder detection alarms: silent and audible. The basic purpose of an alarm device is to deter an intruder from entering your home and to alert the Police of an illegal entry.