Kenilworth Police Department
Home Security


If you were locked out of your house, would you still be able to get in? Maybe you keep an unlocked window in the back, or a hidden key in your mailbox or on top of a window ledge? You may think this is a good idea, but guess what? If you can break in, so can a burglar!

One out of ten homes will be burglarized this year. For a small amount of time and money you can make your home more secure and reduce your chances of being a victim.

Many burglars will spend no longer than 60 seconds trying to break into a home. Good locks - and good neighbors who watch out for each other - can be big deterrents to burglars.


Check the locks
Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries, thieves simply breezed in through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked windows?

  • Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not enough.
  • Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the slide door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.
  • Lock double-hung windows with key locks or "pin" your windows by drilling a small hole into a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. Secure basement windows with grilles or grates.
  • Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
  • When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.


    • Check the doors
    A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down.

    • All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.
    • If your doors don't fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.
    • Install a peephole or wide angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don't keep out intruders.

     

    Check the outside
    Look at your house from the outside. Make sure you know the following tips.


    Consider an Alarm
    Alarms can be a good investment, especially if you have many valuables in your home.  

    • Check with several companies before you buy so you can decide what level of security fits your needs. Do business with an established company and check references before signing a contract.
    • Learn how to use your system properly! Don't "cry wolf" by setting off false alarms. People will stop paying attention and you could pay false alarm charges.
    • Some less expensive options...a sound-detecting socket that plugs into a light fixture and makes the light flash when it detects certain noises, motion sensing outdoor lights that turn on when someone approaches, or lights with photo cells that turn on when it's dark and off when it's light.


    Burglars Do More Than Steal
    Burglars can commit rape, robbery, and assault if they are surprised by someone coming home or pick a home that is occupied.

     

    Send mail to kenilworthpd@kenilworthpd.org with questions or comments about this web site.
    Copyright © 1998 Kenilworth Police Department
    Last modified: November 22, 2011