How to Thwart an Abduction Attempt

Kidnappings occur all over the world and for all sorts of reasons. Kidnappings involve family members, sexual predators, and ransom seekers. What is immediately clear is that there is no typicalabduction, and as more and more people travel throughout the world, the oft-quoted advice to always fight your would-be abductor requires some reconsideration. While on rare occasions, it's best tocooperate, the situation may call for immediate escape, and you need to think fast and act decisively. Here's how

Steps

1. 1
   
   

    Play it safe.
   Play it safe. Take preventative safety precautions. If you're walking in a public place, always be aware of who's around. Be attentive (rather than drowning yourself out with headphones). Make it a habit to spot an escape route every time you enter a new environment. Avoid dark alley ways and parking lots, and/or get an escort. Don't face the wall when eating out. Lock your windows and doors at night. Carry a cell phone and some safety devices (such as a loud whistle on your key chain). If you are traveling abroad, carry a local paper or magazine in the local language. Read travel precautions online.
   • Follow your intuition or gut instinct If you get a sketchy vibe from someone, listen to your gut feeling no matter how irrational. Ducking into a store, changing your route, and staying in the presence of others are all good strategies to avoid kidnapping by heeding your instincts.
   • Vary your routes and times Make it difficult for would-be attackers to anticipate your plans. Learn multiple ways to go between your home and office or any frequent destinations.
2. 2
   Form a plan. The would-be abductor initially gains the upper hand on his victim because he has the element of surprise in his favor. You can prepare yourself by assessing your situation before an abduction occurs. What kind of abduction are you most likely to encounter? What will you do if someone attempts to kidnap you? Rehearse possible scenarios in your mind, and you’ll be ready to act instantly should you actually be attacked.
3. 3
   Be prepared to resist, by carrying mace (pepper spray), a steel extendable baton, or improvise and use your keys, held by the key-chain, to rake across the attacker's eyes. Holding a key between your fingers (as a stabbing weapon) can seriously damage the tendons in your own hand; however, it can also do considerable damage to them.
   
   
   • If there are multiple armed attackers seeking ransom who attempt to abduct you in an isolated or hostile place where there is realistically little to no chance of escape, you should be cooperative from the get-go. This is frequently the case in parts of South America, for example, where well-organized kidnappers abduct businessmen for profit. About 95% of people abducted in this manner are released alive, and the chance of being killed is highest in the first few minutes of the abduction, when something goes wrong — usually when the victim tries to escape or fight.
   • If the would-be abductor is unarmed, if the attempt is sexually motivated, and if you are in the vicinity of other people and can quickly get help, you should fight or do anything you possibly can to escape the attacker. This is the case in most abduction attacks in the U.S. and other developed countries, and it's also usually the case if the intended victim is a woman or child.
4. 4
   

    Run away.
   Run away. If you've made the quick decision to get away, try to get to a safe public place and continue to scream for help. Don't look back, and don't stop until you've reached safety. What qualifies as safety depends on the circumstances. The presence of police officers is almost always sufficient, as is being in a crowd of people (though these situations are only safe if you make sure the police or people in the crowd know what's happening). If you're a foreign national in a hostile country, however, you may not actually be safe until you reach a friendly military patrol or embassy.
5. 5
   Put something between you and the attacker. You may not be able to outrun your attacker, but if you can put something — a busy street, a group of people, or even a car (which you can run around as he tries to pursue you) — between you and him, you may be able to delay him enough to get away or to cause him to give up.
6. 6
   Make a scene. Yell to get help. Do not scream. Screaming emboldens an attacker, and makes you look and act more like prey. Direct commands first at the assailant to stop, then at bystanders to call the police. Direct commands are often obeyed, where as screams are often ignored. You want help, not just witnesses. This technique is especially successful in or near public places, where the abductor hopes to remain inconspicuous lest others intervene or call police. For children, who are relatively less able to fight or flee a would-be abductor, involving others is sometimes the only chance of escape. Do not simply scream in terror or yell "help," as people are apt to ignore this plea. You should yell out the circumstances and a description of the attacker if at all possible: "A man with a knife is chasing me! He's wearing a blue sweatshirt and torn jeans!" (Children should be taught to yell "I'm being kidnapped! I don't know this person!" to other people or "I don't know you! Leave me alone!" at the attacker). This should have the effect of deterring your attacker, or convincing bystanders that your plight is real and not a joke/game/quarrel, or at the very least, leaving behind a reliable description for the police to work from if you are unable to evade capture.
7. 7
   Grab on to people and or objects. Sadly, people are often hesitant to intervene in an abduction. Get someone's attention and make them intervene by grabbing him or her and holding on while yelling commands (never scream) and explaining the situation. The bystander is now involved in the fight against the abductor, which shifts the odds in your favor considerably, especially if you're a woman or child. If there are no people around to grab, hold on to a large object, such as a lamp post, parking meter, or your bicycle. If you can't get away from an abductor, you at least want to prevent him or her from taking you away against your will.
8. 8
   Fight as if your life depended on it, because it very well might. Fight tooth and nail to prevent the abductor from getting you under his control. While everyone should take a self-defense course, you don't usually need specialized knowledge to ward off an attack. Nor do you need to "win" a fight with your attacker: fighting should usually be used just to get out of the grip of an attacker or to enable you to get a head start running away. If your attacker is a sexual predator and you think your chances of escaping are slim, still put up a fight the entire time. Rapists look for easy targets, not someone who is going to struggle and flail. If you fight hard enough, they may decide you are not a good target and give up. The majority of assaults are stopped at the first sign of resistance. First verbal, then physical. Weapons dramatically reduce the chance of an assault succeeding.
   
   
   • Fight dirty. Do whatever you need to get away: this isn't a boxing match. Pick up and wield any heavy object that is close at hand. If you have mace, pepper spray, or a stun gun, use it. (If you own these weapons, practice with them. A weapon forgotten in a purse is useless. This takes practice. Don't just feel safe because you have it on you. Not knowing how to use your weapon merely gives the attacker another tool to use against you.) If an abductor grabs hold of you, don't be afraid or ashamed to make use of your teeth. The seconds you need to escape can be achieved by stunning him with an extreme action like biting off part of an ear, finger, or nose.
   • Aim for sensitive spots. Poke the abductor in the eyes; hit or kick the groin, nose, throat, or kidneys; scrape your foot hard against his shin; stomp on the top of his foot with your heel, or stomp out sideways into his knee. Your elbows, knees, and the palm of your hand are good striking weapons. Your closed fist can be effectively used like a hammer. but don't throw punches - without training, you're more likely to break your hand than hurt your attacker. Make your strikes count and do not stop until there is no chance that the attacker will have the ability to continue his attack. One good blow is not enough, it may stun them and make them angry. The idea is to stop the assault, and that requires a critical amount of damage to be inflicted on the opponent. Your aim is never to kill the opponent, just to stop the attack. Death may simply be a side effect of the effort needed to stop the attack. Whatever you do, once you have started the offensive, do not stop until there is no doubt that you can get away safely. They are angry now, and probably run faster than you. Hit with elbows and knees until the assailant is no longer capable of pursing the attack. Then go get the police.
   • Do not flail. Flailing and using your nails wildly will only cause what the police call "defensive marks" on the attacker, and usually only provides forensic evidence on your dead body. Biting can work to get out of most grips. Or, get your fingers into their eye sockets, the windpipe on the throat, or the groin. If you bite bite a small area with the front of your teeth in a "pinch" as this causes far more pain and damage than a full mouth bit. Once you are out of the hold, hit the assailant as many times as possible with an elbow or knees until you are sure you can get away safely #Call 911 - or the appropriate emergency number. If you have a cell phone, dial the emergency dispatch number for your country. If you can put some distance between you and your attacker, or if you can delay him (by locking yourself in a room, for example), police may reach you in time to capture or at least deter him. If, however, you are immediately subdued, try to conceal your cell phone, and then call police when your captor isn’t looking. If you don’t have a cell phone, use any phone available. If you can use a payphone, you may be able to hold onto it. If the would-be abductor cannot quickly remove you from the scene, he may flee, knowing that police are on the way. If you've escaped the attacker, run to a nearby house or business, let them know what happened and have them call the police; this 1)puts you in a safe place; 2) summons police and 3) creates witnesses.
9. 9
   Lie about advantages you may have. You should do anything to make the attacker thinkhe/she is as unsafe as possible. This means lying about advantages you don't have.
   
   
   • "My dad is the chief of police. You don't want to do this."
   • "I have anhydrous diabetic chronic pneumonia [made-up disease]. I have to take my medication every three hours, or I'll die. If you take me, you're looking at murder charges, no matter what."
   • "There's a police station two blocks away. Why are you doing this here?"
   • Look for ANYTHING that seems official, and assert that it has cameras: "There's an ATM right there. You know they all have hidden cameras, right?" Or if you see anything that REMOTELY looks like a camera, "You know that's a security camera, right?"
   • It is best to call the police, but if for some reason you cannot (lost cellphone, etc.), you should always tell an attacker that police are on the way. "I dialed the panic button from my cellphone, police are on the way. Just run now, and you'll be safe."
   • If you are in your neighborhood LIE and say that a neighbor or the neighborhood itself has cameras and/ neighborhood watch where they report ANY suspicious behavior. Anyways if you are on a neighborhood street there would be at least 5 people in their homes so they would hear you.
   • Another thing to do if in a neighborhood or near a house pretend as if you live there and you just going home. DO NOT show that its not your house. Either knock or pretend to knock on the door and say your mom/dad/brother/sister/friends name to act like your waiting for them to open the door.
10. 10
    Deal with an abduction. If your efforts to thwart the abduction are unsuccessful, there are a number of things you can do to help you survive your ordeal.

Tips

• Focus deliberately on the face if the attacker carries a weapon. Most people keep their eyes on the weapon and are unable to describe the attacker's face afterward to the police.
• If you are in a region where the predominant language is not your own, make sure to learn key phrases in the local language that might aid you in your escape or evasion attempts (such as the expressions cited elsewhere on this page). People are more sympathetic to those with whom they have a connection and if you are not understood, you cannot be helped!
• Avoid being restrained. Once you are restrained, with handcuffs, tape, or rope, for example, there is little chance for escape. You must act quickly to prevent being restrained. If you are going to fight or flee, do it immediately. You may not get a second chance.
• If you're placed in a trunk, try to escape. If you can't get out, rip out or kick through the panel leading to the brake lights, and kick the lights out. You can then stick your arm out and alert motorists that you are inside. If you can't push the lights out, at least disconnect the wires so police are more likely to pull the car over. In addition, yell for help and pound on the trunk lid whenever the vehicle stops or is traveling slowly. Many newer cars also come with an emergency trunk release lever. If the abductor has not disabled it, you can pull the lever to open the trunk.
• Even if the attacker has a gun, you should seriously consider running. In abductions motivated by ransom or sexual predation, the abductor doesn't want you dead, at least not before he or she has been able to remove you from the initial location. The would-be abductor may not shoot at you at all, especially if other people are nearby, and even if he does, if you can put a little distance between you and him, the chances of him hitting you, a moving target, aren't very good unless he's a trained marksman. The probability is even lower that he will seriously wound you and then take the time to continue the abduction. Run in a zig-zag motion. This makes it harder for your attacker to get a shot off than if you run in a straight line.
• If you have a feeling that someone is following you, but don't feel a threat, turn around and look at them. That way, they know that you have seen their face, assuming they are not wearing a mask. Remember that any person following you is possibly a threat.
• If held by the arms, kick back repeatedly (like a horse) and aim for the groin, knee or lower leg.
• The most important thing to do if someone is trying to force you into a vehicle is to fight at all costs. If your attacker is able to get you inside, your chance of escape or survival is dramatically reduced. Use your arms and legs to jam yourself in the car’s doorway if someone is trying to push you into the car. If possible, try to keep your head outside and above the car and scream. This makes it harder to push you in, and could alert passersby that something is wrong. If you're forced into a vehicle, open the door and get out if you can. If you can't get out of the vehicle, try to jam something into the ignition cylinder before the abductor inserts the key into the ignition, or pull the key out of the ignition, and throw them out the window and/or jam something in. A button off your clothes, a piece of metal, a stick, or the bubble gum in your mouth can all effectively prevent the abductor from reinserting the key and starting the vehicle. If nothing else will work, put the key halfway in the switch and bend or break it off.

http://www.wikihow.com/Thwart-an-Abduction-Attempt

Self-defence for women 

Tips to stay safe at night

The tragic death of ABC staffer Jill Meagher has left many women with the thought ‘I walk home alone at night. That could have been me’.

Here are some strategies women can employ to feel safer on the streets if they do have to walk alone:

1. Take a self-defence class. Jackson, a former police officer, says it’s a good way to impart a range of safety strategies, and she gets people to dump politeness at the door and surrender to the urge to kick the hell out of something.

"That's the most satisfying thing from an instructor's perspective - seeing timid people come in and, by the end of the session, seeing them just going flat out, as hard as they can," she says. "Usually you're plastered in sweat by the time you leave. Unlike different forms of martial arts, which take years of training to master, and often focus on specific techniques, self-defence instructors borrow the best from each tradition and deliver them in a quick-fix package.

"You're getting the benefits straight away and the most useful techniques can be taught in as little as 10 hours," Jackson says. Honing in on the three primary target areas - eyes, throat and groin - Jackson teaches participants 12 techniques, ranging from head butting and heel stomping to biting and groin kicking. "It's important to remember it will take more than one technique to fend off an attacker," she explains.

"Usually you'll need to use three to five." 

2. Be aware. Jackson conducts awareness training to minimise the risk that participants will find themselves in danger in the first place. "Get to know things like, 'Is there someone behind me?', 'Where is the closest exit?', 'What things in my handbag, such as car keys or a ballpoint pen, can I use as weapons?'" she says. 

3. Portray a confident exterior. It’s crucial.

"Strong body language conveys the message that you will put up a fight, so head up, shoulders back and look people in the eye - that shows [potential attackers] that you're not intimidated by them." Such assertions have science on their side. In a study reported in Psychology Today, researchers asked convicted criminals - armed robbers, rapists and murderers - to view a video of pedestrians walking down a busy street.

Within seconds, the prisoners identified which pedestrians they would pick as victims - and the choices had nothing to do with gender, race or age. Instead, they were assessing the ease with which they could overpower targets, based on non-verbals such as posture, body language, walking pace and the use of distractors such as mobile phones. 

4. Be as fit as you can. “The least fit are often the most vulnerable,” Jackson says. Most martial arts classes promote physical fitness as a primary component, so you'll spend lots of time sprinting, skipping and doing sit-ups,push-ups and squats. Ten minutes of boxing or kicking will burn up to 586 kilojoules. "You'll be working hard - so put on the sort of thing you'd wear on a run," Jackson advises. But she says there isn't a prerequisite level of fitness. "[It's] offered to people of all fitness levels and physical abilities.”

Using strike pads, which cushion the impact of blows, Jackson urges women to subvert societal messages and go hard.
http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/body+fitness/news+features/self+defence+for+women,8145

Home Invasion Tips

Home Invasion: Dangerous Criminals Rely on Scare Tactics

Imagine it is the end of a long day. You and your family are spread about the house: your spouse in the study, your son in his room playing video games, your daughter dutifully doing the dishes, and you tinkering with your train set in the garage. You hear the doorbell ring; you go to answer, glancing at your watch and wondering who could be dropping by unannounced at this hour. You look through the peephole and see a nicely dressed man who claims, by yelling through the door, that his car broke down and he needs to use the phone. You open the door.

You just made a big mistake.

That nice young man has two buddies hiding out of sight, and the instant you open that door, all three pounce on you. You are pushed to the ground. Your screams bring your family running, though inside you desperately wish they would hide or even escape. But it’s too late. You are the victim of a home invasion, and now you and your family are in danger.

Regular burglars work doing the day, breaking in during daylight hours when the home is usually unoccupied. They want to get in and get out with the loot, avoiding confrontation.

Home invasion criminals are different.

Home invasion criminals do their dastardly deeds at night, and their target is more than just the loot: it is often the residents. Single women, the elderly, or the wealthy are common home invasion targets. Home invasion robbers do it for more than just the spoils of war. Many get an adrenaline rush from the violence, the domination, and the fear they instill in you. Home invasion criminals are the most dangerous kind of criminal, and you must protect yourself and your family from home invasion with dedicated vigilance. There’s a reason people say the home is a castle –- it needs to be a well-secured battlement to protect you from home invasion.

The first sixty seconds of a home invasion are the most violent; this is when the attackers often beat, subdue, or bound you and your family. Threats are made against your life, and the home invasion criminals stalk about your house looking for valuables to steal. They could take their sweet time, while you tremble with fear, bound and gagged on the floor, wondering what will happen to you and your family. Will there be sexual assault? Murder? You are helpless. All you can do is pray and wait for them to leave, and then try to get help.

But you can prevent a home invasion.

The same steps you take to secure your home when you are away are useful when you are at home.

1.    Lock all doors and windows at all times.

2.    Arm your burglar alarm even when you are there

3.    Stop forced entries with solid doors and reinforced locks

4.    Create a home invasion panic room at the center of your home, with a deadbolt lock, sturdy door, first aid supplies, and a charged cell phone. Home invaders often cut the phone lines to prevent you from calling for help. Keeping a cell phone in your panic room allows you to call for help if the regular lines of communication are cut.   Use a strip of tape...write your address on it and stick it next to your phone...in a panic you may not be able to remember it.  Keep a flashlight nearby.

5.    Instruct your family to never open the door for an unexpected stranger. If someone comes to the door asking to use the phone, offer to make the call for them. Harmless people who really do need help understand that you are just being safe. Home invasion criminals, luckily, often just give up.

6.    Hold a family meeting and create a plan in the case home invasion. Make sure each family member knows what to do: escape out the back door if they can, or head for the panic room, and don’t fight back. Violence only escalates if the home invasion criminals become angry.

It may seem like home invasions are impossible to prevent. Any criminal who really wants to get inside your home can just kick the door in. But precautions and common sense can keep most home invasion criminals from trying their luck with your home. You can enjoy your pleasant evenings home, knowing you and your family are safe in your well-fortified castle.

More tips to preventing Home Invasions

Strangers: You tell your children not to talk to strangers, so why do you open the door to a total stranger?

Peephole: Install peepholes, talk through the door.

Posers: Home-invaders pose as delivery people, public workers, or people in distress.

Make a call: Under no circumstances do you open the door unless you get phone numbers to call their superiors.

Distress: If someone is in distress tell him or her you will call the police for them.

If you live in a high crime area where law enforcement takes a while to respond, and if someone is trying to break into your house while you are in it, calling the fire department will sometimes get help to the scene quicker. Do this only if you are desperate. Firefighters are not equipped to handle violence. However squealing sirens can deter a criminal.

Home Safe Home: Consider a second line or a cell phone in your bedroom. Burglars often remove a telephone from the receiver when they enter a home.

Get alarmed: An alarm system activated while you are sleeping will prevent a burglar from getting to far. Newer alarms have cellular options, a safeguard even if the phone lines are cut.

Money and jewels: One simple reason your house is chosen is someone tipped off the Home-invader that you have valuables. Your friends or children or baby sitter might have unintentionally bragged.

Get armed: Having a non-lethal weapon in the form of a Taser or a Pepper spray in close proximity to your bed or front door can debilitate your attacker before they gain control. Get Firearms Training;  The probability of  serious  injury from an attack is 2.5 times greater for women offering no resistance than for women resisting with a gun. When a woman is armed with a gun or knife, only 3% of rape attacks are completed, compared to 32% when unarmed.

Locks: Call a qualified locksmith to take a physical security survey to help you determine the most efficient way to lock up. Many products on the market are a false sense of security. A qualified locksmith should be a professional associated with well-known manufacturers.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeqqama/id58.html

10 Tips To Make Your Home More Secure

Katie Miller / The Seattle Times

With daily comings and goings, we don't always pay attention to home security.

Big mistake, experts say. Because the crooks are paying very close attention. And they love strict schedules.

"Burglars are generally smart," said Jim Polak, deputy police chief in Independence, Ohio. "They're going to wait and watch, because they don't want to run into anyone in the house."

The quicker they get in the house and out with your stuff, the less likely it is that they'll get caught, he said.

Every 15 seconds, a home in the United States is broken into, said Angela Mickalide, director of education and outreach for the National Home Safety Council. People are often surprised to learn that two-thirds of home burglaries happen during daytime hours, she said. But it only makes sense that burglars wait for the times residents are away from home.

Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity, said Mickalide.

"They wait for an opportunity — an unlocked door, an open window," she said. "Burglars are going to pick the easiest house."

Although there's no way to guarantee you won't be a victim, there are ways to minimize your risk. Here are 10 ways to make your home unattractive to burglars:

1. Think like a crook. Look for places that get dark at night, that have access or aren't easily visible to neighbors or from the street. These are places where a burglar might lurk.

2. Trim shrubbery. Overgrown landscaping appeals to a burglar, who can lurk behind shrubbery and slip into a first-story or basement window without being seen by a neighbor, Polak said. Trim and thin out shrubbery to the point where no one can hide behind it.

3. Shine a light. Don't give burglars a dark place to lurk, Polak said. Landscape and path lighting and motion-detecting floodlights can work together so crooks have nowhere to hide. Pay attention to lighting indoors, too. Set lights on a timer, and change the timing frequently to keep burglars from detecting your daily routines.

4. Be alarming. A security system is one of the best ways to protect your home, Polak said. The presence of one makes burglars think twice before trying to break in.

5. Keep 'em guessing. "Don't establish any patterns," Polak said. "If a burglar can't be sure of when you're coming or going, they're less likely to strike your house." A dog or cat moving around the home may confuse a burglar. A home-automation system, which can be integrated with a security system, can automate everything from lights and televisions to blinds. If you're going away, even for a weekend, don't let mail, packages, circulars or newspapers accumulate. Ask a relative, friend or neighbour to drop by at different times.

6. Be a good neighbor. Get acquainted with your neighbors, and offer to keep an eye on their homes while they're away. Know where they're going and when they'll be back, and get a contact phone number. If something doesn't look right while you're keeping an eye on things, if someone who appears to be in a utility-company uniform doesn't seem legit, trust your gut and don't be afraid to call the police, Polak said.

7. Look out below. Basement windows are a vulnerable point for older homes, Polak said. They're often single-pane glass with flimsy metal frames, and the opening is big enough for an average-sized adult to slip through. Polak recommends replacing those old windows with glass block for better security. Glass block also offers better privacy and energy efficiency.

8. Deny access. Make sure the locks on doors and windows are secure, and check them before leaving the house. The most common mistake people make is leaving the door to the house from the attached garage unlocked, Mickalide said. "They figure the garage door is locked, no point in locking the inside door," she said. "But if the garage door is breached or left open, a burglar can waltz right in."

9. Go around the back. The back of the house isn't visible from the street and can offer some tantalizing ways for a burglar to get in. Sliding doors are the easiest way to gain entry, so make sure they're always locked. Some people put boards or rods at the base of the slider to keep it from being opened. Don't ever leave a ladder outdoors — a burglar can climb up one to an unlocked second-story window.

10. Think safety, as well as security. Although a deadbolt lock that opens with a key from the inside may be the most secure, a turning deadbolt is better, because it permits a quick exit in the event of a fire or other emergency, Mickalide said. Bars on your windows may keep burglars out, but they can keep you in, too. If you must have bars, get the ones that allow you to open them easily from the inside, and practice doing it so you don't panic in an emergency. "Don't ever impede your exit from the house," Mickalide said.

http://seattletimes.com/html/homegarden/2008336426_securitytips01.htm
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Burglary Prevention Advice

Your home is your castle...or is it? Is your home really safe once you leave for work or school? Your home is considered a sanctuary where you should feel safe. Your home is the only environment where you have control over who can get close to you or your family. Protecting your home and family from criminal intrusion should be high on your list of priorities. See my web site on Family Security Tips for more information on protecting your family from harm.

Home Burglary

By far, the most common threat to our home is burglary. According to the FBI, a burglary occurs somewhere in the United States every 15.4 seconds. By definition, the crime of burglary is a non-confrontational property crime that occurs when we are not at home. However, becoming a burglary victim can leave a family feeling vulnerable and violated. To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of who commits them and why.

The majority of home and apartment burglaries occur during the daytime when most people are away at work or school. The summer months of July and August have the most burglaries with February having the fewest crimes. Burglaries are committed most often by young males under 25 years of age looking for items that are small, expensive, and can easily be converted to cash. Favorite items are cash, jewellery  guns, watches, laptop computers, VCRs, video players, CDs and other small electronic devices are high on the list. Quick cash is needed for living expenses and drugs. Statistics tell us that 70% of the burglars use some amount force to enter a dwelling, but their preference is to gain easy access through an open door or window. Ordinary household tools like screwdrivers, channel-lock pliers, small pry bars, and small hammers are most often used by burglars. Burglars continue to flourish because police can only clear about 13% of all reported burglaries and rarely catch the thief in the act.

Although home burglaries may seem random in occurrence, they actually involve a selection process. The burglar's selection process is simple. Choose an unoccupied home with the easiest access, the greatest amount of cover, and with the best escape routes. What follows is a list of suggestions to minimize your risk by making your home unattractive to potential burglars.

Doors and Locks

The first step is to harden the target or make your home more difficult to enter. Remember, the burglar will simply bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than they possess. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry followed by the back door. The garage and back doors also provide the most cover. Burglars know to look inside your car for keys and other valuables so keep it locked, even when parked inside your garage. Use high quality Grade-1 or Grade-2 locks on exterior doors to resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. A quality deadbolt lock will have a beveled casing to inhibit the use of channel-lock pliers used to shear off lock cylinder pins. A quality door knob-in-lock set will have a 'dead latch' mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card. 

• Use a solid core or metal door for all entrance points 
• Use a quality, heavy-duty, deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt 
• Use a quality, heavy-duty, knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism 
• Use a heavy-duty, four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden door frame 
• Use a wide-angle 160° peephole mounted no higher than 58 inches 

The most common way used to force entry through a door with a wooden jamb is to simply kick it open. The weakest point is almost always the lock strike plate that holds the latch or lock bolt in place followed by a glass paneled door. The average door strike plate is secured only by the soft-wood doorjamb moulding  These lightweight moldings are often tacked on to the door frame and can be torn away with a firm kick. Because of this construction flaw, it makes sense to upgrade to a four-screw, heavy-duty, high security strike plate. They are available in most quality hardware stores and home improvement centers and are definitely worth the extra expense. Install this heavy-duty strike plate using 3-inch wood screws to cut deep into the door frame stud. Use these longer screws in the knob lock strike plate as well and use at least one long screw in each door hinge. This one step alone will deter or prevent most through-the-door forced entries. You and your family will sleep safer in the future.

Sliding-Glass Patio Doors

Sliding glass doors are secured by latches not locks. They are vulnerable to being forced open from the outside because of these inherently defective latch mechanisms. This can be easily be prevented by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into the track thus preventing or limiting movement. Other blocking devices available are metal fold-down blocking devices called "charley bars" and various track-blockers that can be screwed down.

The blocking devices described above solve half the equation. Older sliding glass doors can be lifted up and off their track and thereby defeat the latch mechanism. To prevent lifting, you need to keep the door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted. You can also install anti-lift devices such as a pin that extends through both the sliding and fixed portion of the door. There are also numerous locking and blocking devices available in any good quality hardware store that will prevent a sliding door from being lifted or forced horizontally. Place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification is in place. Burglars dislike alarm systems and definitely big barking dogs. 

• Use a secondary blocking device on all sliding glass doors 
• Keep the latch mechanism in good condition and properly adjusted 
• Keep sliding door rollers in good condition and properly adjusted 
• Use anti-lift devices such as through-the-door pins or upper track screws 
• Use highly visible alarm decals, beware of dog decals or block watch decal

Windows

Windows are left unlocked and open at a much higher rate than doors. An open window, visible from the street or alley, may be the sole reason for your home to be selected by a burglar. Ground floor windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons. Upper floor windows become attractive if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies. Windows have latches, not locks and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside. Inexpensive wooden dowels and sticks work well for horizontal sliding windows and through-the-frame pins work well for vertical sliding windows. For ventilation, block the window open no more than six inches and make sure you can't reach in from the outside and remove the blocking device or reach through and unlock the door.

In sleeping rooms, these window blocking devices should be capable of being removed easily from the inside to comply with fire codes. Like sliding glass doors, anti-lift devices are necessary for ground level and accessible aluminium windows that slide horizontally. The least expensive and easiest method is to install screws half-way into the upper track of the movable glass panel to prevent it from being lifted out in the closed position. As a deterrent, place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification system is in place. 

• Secure all accessible windows with secondary blocking devices 
• Block accessible windows open no more than 6 inches for ventilation 
• Make sure someone cannot reach through an open window and unlock the door 
• Make sure someone cannot reach inside the window and remove the blocking device 
• Use anti-lift devices to prevent window from being lifted out 
• Use crime prevention or alarm decals on ground accessible windows

Be a Good Neighbour

Good neighbours should look out for each other. Get to know your neighbours on each side of your home and the three directly across the street. Invite them into your home, communicate often, and establish trust. Good neighbours will watch out for your home or apartment when you are away, if you ask them. They can report suspicious activity to the police or to you while you are away. Between them, good neighbours can see to it that normal services continue in your absence by allowing vendors to mow your lawn or remove snow. Good neighbours can pick up your mail, newspapers, handbills, and can inspect the outside or inside of your home periodically to see that all is well. Good neighbours will occasionally park in your driveway to give the appearance of occupancy while you are on vacation.

Allowing a neighbour to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside the door. Experienced burglars know to look for hidden keys in planter boxes, under doormats, and above the ledge. Requiring a service vendor to see your neighbour to retrieve and return your house key will send the message that someone is watching. This neighbourhood watch technique sets up what is called territoriality which means that your neighbours will take ownership and responsibility for what occurs in your mini-neighbourhood. This concept works in both single family homes communities and on apartment properties. This practice helps deter burglaries and other crimes in a big way. Of course for this to work, you must reciprocate and offer the same services. 

• Get to know all your adjacent neighbours 
• Invite them into your home and establish trust 
• Agree to watch out for each other's home 
• Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality 
• While on vacation - pick up newspapers, and flyers 
• Offer to occasionally park your car in their driveway 
• Return the favor and communicate often 

Lighting

Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darken home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbours can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark. Typically, you want to use light-timers near the front and back windows with the curtains closed. The pattern of lights turning on and off should simulate actual occupancy. It’s also comforting not to have to enter a dark residence when you return home. The same light timers can be used to turn on radios or television sets to further enhance the illusion of occupancy.

Exterior lighting is also very important. It becomes critical if you must park in a common area parking lot or underground garage and need to walk to your front door. The purpose of good lighting is to allow you to see if a threat or suspicious person is lurking in your path. If you can see a potential threat in advance then you at least have the choice and chance to avoid it. Exterior lighting needs to bright enough for you to see 100-feet and it helps if you can identify colours  Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don't want to be seen or identified.

Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your home or apartment especially at the entryway. Exterior lighting on the front of a property should always be on a timer to establish a routine and appearance of occupancy at all times. Common area lighting on apartment properties should also be on a timer or photo-cell to turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn. The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day on a single family home is a dead giveaway that you are out of town. Exterior lighting at the rear of a home or apartment are usually on a switch because of the proximity to the sleeping rooms. The resident can choose to leave these lights on or off. Security lights with infra-red motion sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior porch light or side door light on single family homes. The heat-motion sensor can be adjusted to detect body heat and can be programmed to reset after one minute. These security lights are highly recommended for single family homes.

• Use interior light timers to establish a pattern of occupancy 
• Exterior lighting should allow 100- feet of visibility 
• Use good lighting along the pathway and at your door 
• Use light timers or photo-cells to turn on/off lights automatically 
• Use infra-red motion sensor lights on the rear of single family homes

Alarm Systems

Alarm systems definitely have a place in a home security plan and are effective, if used properly. The reason why alarms systems deter burglaries is because they increase the potential and fear of being caught and arrested by the police. The deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on the windows. Home and apartment burglars will usually bypass a property with visible alarm signs and will go to another property without such a sign. Some people, with alarm systems, feel that these signs and decals are unsightly and will not display them. The risk here is that an uninformed burglar might break a window or door and grab a few quick items before the police can respond. Also, don't write your alarm passcode on or near the alarm keypad.

Alarm systems need to be properly installed and maintained. Alarms systems can monitor for fire as well as burglary for the same price. All systems should have an audible horn or bell to be effective in case someone does break in. However, these audible alarms should be programmed to reset automatically after one or two minutes. The criminal got the message and will be long gone but your neighbours will have to listen to the alarm bell, sometimes for hours, until it is shut off. If you use a central station to monitor your alarm, make sure your response call list is up to date. Home alarms, like car alarms, are generally ignored except for a brief glance. However, if you have established and nurtured your neighbourhood watch buddy system, you will experience a genuine concern by your neighbour  It is not unusual to have a neighbour wait for the police, allow them inside for an inspection, and secure the residence. A good neighbour can also call the glass company or locksmith to repair any damage, if pre-authorised by you.

The greatest barrier getting to this level of neighbourhood participation is taking the first step. You can get help by calling your local crime prevention unit at the police department. Most police departments in large cities have neighbourhood watch coordinators to help you set this up. You should invite your adjacent neighbours over to your home for coffee and begin the information exchange. You'll be amazed how the process runs on automatic from there.

• Alarm systems are effective deterrents with visible signage 
• Alarm systems to be properly installed, programmed, and maintained 
• Alarm systems need to have an audible horn or bell to be effective 
• Make sure your alarm response call list is up to date 
• Instruct your neighbour how to respond to an alarm bell 

Home Safes

Since the prices of good home safes are falling, having a safe in your home is a wise investment. Home safes are designed to keep the smash and grab burglar, nosey kids, dishonest babysitter or housekeeper from gaining access to important documents and personal property. Home safes need to be anchored into the floor or permanent shelving.

• Use the safe everyday so it becomes routine 
• Protect the safe code and change it occasionally 
• Install it away from the master bedroom or closet

Operation Identification

This is a program supported by most police agencies. They recommend that you engrave your drivers’ license, not your social security number, on televisions, stereos, computers, and small electronic appliances. They suggest this so they can identify and locate you if your stolen items are recovered. I suggest that you go way beyond this step

I recommend that you photograph your valuables in their locations around your home and make a list of the make, model, and serial numbers. This is very important for proof when filing insurance claims. You should keep this list in a safety deposit box or with a relative for safe keeping. Keep receipts of the larger items in case you need to prove the value of the items for insurance purposes. Beyond that, I recommend that you photocopy important documents and the contents of your wallet. You will be thankful that you took these steps in case your home is ever destroyed by fire or flood, is ransacked, or if your wallet is lost or stolen.

• Identify your valuables by engraving your drivers’ license number 
• Photograph and record the serial numbers of all valuables 
• Photocopy the contents of your wallet and other documents 

Store the copies in a safe deposit box or with a relative

by Chris E McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM

http://www.crimedoctor.com/home.htm