a new perspective

I've got good news and bad news. First, the bad news: There is no such thing as a burglar-proof home or car, or a lock that cannot be picked, drilled or bypassed. There is no security system that cannot be broached. A burglar who is dedicated enough, skilled enough and has the proper tools will get in, regardless of the measures you take. Now, the good news: Unless you have done something to annoy the wrong person or you have something really worth stealing (like the crown jewels) you are not going to have to worry about that kind of dedication to break in. So you don't have to turn your home into a reinforced bunker. What you can reasonably do, however, is make it hard enough that the average criminal will decide to go elsewhere. This simple shift in perspective goes a long way toward keeping you, your family and your possessions safe. Criminals are not known for their work ethic. Moreover, they, literally, live and die by calculated risks. Assessing labor and risk are very much criminal skills. Too hard and too risky are the best defenses you have. Since the criminal is not interested in getting "you" personally, it's easier to go where there is less work and fewer risks. This may not be good news for your more vulnerable neighbors, but it can provide you with some peace of mind.

shroud of protection

The best lock in the world is only as good as the hasp that holds it. If you take a sledgehammer to a normal lock and hasp, it won't be more than three or four solid hits before one or the other gives way. The hasps that you find at most hardware store are only as good as the screws holding them in place. Also, a pair of bolt cutters works just as well on the hasp's tongue as they do on the lock itself. Hasps need to bolt through whatever they are attached to — not just screwed into it. Support them with a steel back plate on the other side of the door. The same nuts that hold the hasp hold the back plate in place. In order for the bolts to tear out, a burglar has to take out the area of the entire plate. And that isn't really likely to happen. A shrouded hasp protects the lock itself from being directly struck. You can also buy attachable four-sided steel boxes that bolt through the door itself. These units cover both the lock and the hasp and protect them from sledgehammer, bolt cutter and prying attacks.

chain fail

Avoid using chain to secure your property. If possible, use case hardened steel lines. Chains, like most inexpensive hasp locks, can be easily cut with bolt cutters. Criminals are professionals. Like most professionals, they have the tools of their trade. Bolt cutters and pry bar are, to a criminal, the equivalent of a cellphone and a laptop to the traveling executive. Just because you don't normally carry them in your trunk doesn't mean the criminal won't. A smaller gauge chain will be easily snipped off, and all the money you invested in locks and fencing will be rendered useless. While encased steel cables are harder to manipulate, they also are also much harder to cut. If you use simple chain, get case hardened and the heaviest chain you can find.

locked out

If you have a fence, make sure the gates are locked. This is especially important with accesses to the alley. Each layer serves as a deterrent. The more layers and hard work a criminal has to do, the more likely your home will be passed by. A locked fence is something a burglar must climb over while carrying objects. If the gate is left unlocked, however, the thief can just walk right through.

window treatment

Install effective window treatments — especially on rooms where there is expensive equipment. Thin, sheer drapes — although attractive — also allow burglars to look inside. You may be surprised at how often a home intruder will walk up and look through the windows of a home to see if there is anything worth stealing. Sheer curtains allow the burglar to know this before ever breaking in. Get into the habit of closing drapes and blinds not to reduce the chances of your home being targeted by a burglar. Without the ability to see into the home, there are less guaranteed results for a burglar, which helps to serve as a deterrent.

one word: plastics

Consider applying a safety coating on the most vulnerable windows in your home. Safety coat is an adhesive plastic sheeting that makes breaking out windows more difficult.

plant protection

Plant something prickly such as rose bushes, cacti or holly bushes in front of all vulnerable windows. Thorny landscaping not only adds beauty to your home, but also makes getting close to such windows an unappealing prospect. Remember, the second most common way of breaking into homes is through rear or side windows. A thief can work on such windows with little chance of detection. Standing in the middle of a thorn bush to do it, however, is not a pleasant experience.

backup plan

Find alternatives to normal deadbolts in doors that have windows (or windowed frames). Why? Most burglaries occur during the day when people are away at work. Unfortunately, many doors are decorative and windowed. It is easy for a burglar to punch out a small window, reach in and unlock the door. A single-key deadbolt has a key on one side and a handle on the other. After punching out a window a burglar can reach in and, with ease, open the deadbolt then the doorknob - elapsed time: five seconds. Placing a secondary lock (i.e., a floor lock) outside of the reach of the windows is recommended. If that is too much, a double-key deadbolt is recommended for non-primary access doors. This secures the door while you are not at home. If fire safety concerns you (and it should) at night put your keys in the deadbolt. This not only allows you immediate exit should a fire occur, but you will also always know where your keys are.

cruise control

Criminals often cruise neighborhoods looking for open garage doors or carports. When they find a vulnerable target, they simply pull into your driveway and start loading up. For criminals on foot, a side or rear entry door to a garage is a prime target, as it is often easier to access or escape than the main garage door. Treat every garage door as you would any door into your home — by installing multiple locks and bracing that can withstand a full-out assault.

invisible plan

Brace doorframes and put multiple locks on all outside doors for added security. With a little extra work, the bracing can be hidden behind the doorframe's internal molding and will not be noticeable from either inside or outside. For a burglar, this is like unexpectedly hitting an invisible wall.

easy access

A common combination of cheap locks and small construction flaws that often go unnoticed give criminals the "cracks" in security they need to break in. Many home door locks can be quickly bypassed with a knife or screwdriver slid in the gap between door and frame. After that, the criminal can easily work the tongue of most cheap locks out of the doorframe. A thin kitchen knife slid between sash windows can "tap" a normal window lock open. Hasps and locks can be hammered or twisted off in a few blows, or simply cut off with bolt cutters. Many sliding windows and doors can simply be lifted out of place. In addition to locking your doors and windows, you should also protect the lock and its components.

vulnerability assessment

If you want to know your level of vulnerability, walk around your property and ask yourself: If I were a burglar, how would I break in? Examine your house from the street. Where are the blind spots? Blind spots are areas where a criminal can work without being detected. Also, look for easy access points, such as sliding glass doors, doggy doors or louvered windows. Speaking of windows, stand outside and look into your house through the windows. Can you see expensive electronics or artwork? If you can see your belongings, you can bet that criminals can see them, too.

extended view

A door lock is not enough. You must also address the area around it. Extend your thinking about security measures to 18 and 24 inches around the lock itself. That is the area you must protect. A burglar doesn't care how much damage is caused by breaking into your home. The best locks in the world will do no good if a thief smashes in the door. A pinewood door frame will splinter and give way after a few savage kicks. A deadbolt can often be bypassed by simply breaking a window and reaching through to unlock it. Windows can be broken and locks undone. Many locked gates can be opened by simply reaching around and over. A hasp-and-lock will swiftly yield to blows from a even a small sledgehammer.

amateur hour

Burglars look for easy targets because most of them are amateurs, not accomplished professionals. An amateur looks for opportunities to get valuables in the easiest possible way without being seen or heard. The easier you make it for the burglar, the more likely you are of being burglarized.

layered effect

Make your home security system like an onion, not an egg. Layers upon layers are not only the best deterrent, but also the best defense against break-ins. Criminals can easily bypass a single line of defense, but multiple layers will slow them down and serve to alert you or your neighbors that someone is trying to break in. If enough of these deterrents are visible, most of the time the would-be intruder will simply choose to move on. A good example of a layered defense is holly bushes outside the window, double-locked, barred and safety-coated windows and something difficult to climb over inside under the window.

action plan

Crime prevention is the act of stopping a crime before it happens. Before you can stop crime, you have to be aware of it. That means knowing the who, what, when, where, why and how of a crime. But awareness, unless converted into action, can only lead to fear. So action is what crime prevention is about.