use it or lose it

If your home is equipped with an alarm system, use it! Friends of ours in Oak Cliff were robbed of all their expensive electronic equipment, including televisions, stereos and computers. They have a home alarm system -- but they didn't have it set and they weren't paying to have it monitored. Now that they're facing big deductibles to replace their lost property, they're regretting that they didn't take the extra step and pay the relatively low cost of alarming their home. Would a loud alarm have made a difference? Probably so. Burglars may still "grab and go," but chances are they wouldn't have grabbed as much because they wouldn't have known how long it would take for police -- or a notified homeowner -- to show up. When it comes to home alarms, the old saying rings true, "Use it or lose it."

someone's knocking

Two recent tragic shootings underscore the importance of protecting yourself when answering the door. If someone unexpected comes to your door, do not open the door. Instead, request identification and the reason for the visit. Also, don't stand directly in front of the door. This will protect you from someone shooting through the door or kicking it in. For added security, take your cell phone with you when you respond to someone at the door. If you need to call 911, you won't have to search for the phone. Finally, if your door has large windows or glass panels, consider installing an intercom system so that you can communicate with people who are standing outside your door without placing yourself at risk of assault or home invasion.

sales force

Several Hampton Hills homes are up for sale or lease, meaning interested homebuyers and renters will be driving through our neighborhood and may even ask you some questions if they see you outside. Be very careful when talking to strangers. If someone you don't know asks a lot of questions about you, your neighbors or your area, make sure you don't provide information that could compromise security, such as, "That homeowner travels a lot for business and is hardly ever home," or "that resident works from home and has a lot of high-tech equipment." Many burglars may try to trick you into thinking they are just innocent homebuyers inquiring about the neighborhood.

a common-sense approach

Most burglaries occur while the homeowners are away from the house. It’s often ridiculously easy to spot a house that has been unoccupied for a day or more. Taking a few simple precautions can minimize your chances of being a victim of crime.

Many common sense tips are well known by now. Stop the mail, stop the newspaper or have a neighbor pick them up. Lock up the house and leave a light on. But even these common techniques could use improvement.

Stopping the newspaper could just look like you decided not to have it anymore, so that’s fine. But, stopping all mail delivery is also a signal to thieves, since everyone gets at least some, if only junk mail. Better to have it picked up daily, then taken inside the house by a neighbor, who then exits out the back.

Leaving a light on is fine, too, except when it burns all the time. Then it looks unnatural and staged. Better to have at least a simple timer that turns it off during the day and on at night. Better still is to have one that will turn it off and on at night several times, as you would if you were home. Putting the stereo or radio on a timer is a good idea, too.

vacation plans

If you're planning to hit the road for a vacation, here are three quick ways to prevent your home from being burglarized: 1) Lock your home and activate your security alarm; 2) Inform your neighbors about your trip; and 3) Make the house and garden look lived in -- not abandoned.

come and get it!

Recently, I walked out my door and noticed that the neighbor had gotten a 47-inch flat panel television. How did I know? The box was sitting on the curb for bulky trash collection. It was putting a big sign in front of the house saying, "Hey burglars, come and get it!" Break down boxes from big-ticket items and place them in your trash or recycle bin rather than leaving them curbside.

make the case

Take the time to "case" your house, just as a burglar would. Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more burglar-resistant? Trim trees and shrubs near your doors and windows, and think carefully before installing a high, wood fence around your backyard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but privacy is a burglar's asset. Consider trading a little extra privacy for a bit of added security. Force any would-be burglar to confront a real enemy -- light. Exterior lights, mounted out of easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting. Time also is a burglar's enemy. A burglar delayed for four or five minutes is apt to give up and try for another, less difficult location. Simple security devices -- including such ordinary equipment as nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts -- can discourage intruders and keep them from entering. Consider the noise factor. Try to make the general prospect of robbing your home a noisy job. Many types of alarm systems are available, with detectors mounted on doors and windows. Deciding just how much protection you need -- and can afford -- is a personal judgment. Just make sure you have an interior and exterior horn or sounding device. That way, if your alarm sounds, someone is sure to hear it -- namely, the burglar! Finally, ask yourself if any of your valuables -- such as a painting, a silver collection or an antique chair -- are easy to see from outside. Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it serves to make your home less inviting to criminals! Incidentally, should you ever need to report a burglary or file an insurance claim, a household inventory -- a listing of your furniture and major personal belongings -- could be a valuable document.

the enemy within

Knowing about a burglar’s three worst enemies -- light, time and noise -- can help you protect your home from crime. Burglars won’t find your home an “easy mark” if they’re forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time breaking in, and if they can’t work quietly.

the wrong signal

Many people leave just a single light on when going out so they don't have to walk into a dark home when returning. Unfortunately, this kind of lighting signals would-be burglars that no one is home. The solution is to leave several lights on, and to use indoor timers to present the illusion of moving from room to room.

accentuate the positive

Burglars choose their target based on three factors: potential reward (perceived wealth, expensive items inside the home), easy access (security of doors and windows) and perceived danger (absence of the owner, escape routes, proximity of authorities, security systems). Your best chances to protect against burglary and home invasion are to influence all three factor to the disadvantage of the potential intruder. Reduce the temptation for the intruder. Give the illusion that there’s little value to be gained by entering your home. This doesn’t mean your house needs to look “poor,” but it does mean you should avoid any displays of ostentation. Make entering your home difficult. Secure any potential way a burglar might use to access your home. This includes the use of safe locks for doors and security measures for your windows. Finally, increase the potential danger to the intruder. Give the impression that somebody attempting to gain access will always be seen somehow - either by making the main entrance routes clearly visible to the neighborhood or by installing security equipment in an obvious location.

pretend pooch

If you don't have a dog there's nothing stopping you from pretending you do. A "Beware of Dog" sign on your fence, a dog house in the back yard, even a loose dog chain or bowl can drive away a potential burglar.

easy sell

Don't make the mistake of believing that your home won't be targeted if you don't have expensive contents inside. Burglars will take anything that they think they can sell easily. This includes DVD players, CDs, and even alcohol. Anything that can be sold or bartered is a desirable mark, especially if the thief needs money quickly.

partners in crime -- prevention!

The next time you're joking about donut-eating cops, remember that these people have a lot more than pastry on their plates. They're responsible for investigating crimes, catching crooks, carrying out crash and fire investigations, patrolling the beat, enforcing traffic laws and helping motorists, looking for missing and lost children, answering domestic complaints, writing reports, interacting with other governmental and justice officials, testifying in court, attending public meetings and preventing loss. Yes, nearly all public safety agencies have loss-prevention programs in place, most of which welcome citizen participation. While it's true that public safety agencies also rely on criminal paranoia and some sort of rapid-response strategy to deter crime and prevent loss, for crime prevention to be truly effective, we need to get involved. Police can't be everywhere at once. That's why they rely on us to be their eyes and ears. When criminals fear they're being watched and their activity is being reported, they're more likely to move on.

change is good

If you always leave at the same time every day, are gone for the same length of time, and return at the same time, thieves can easily memorize your routine, taking advantage of the times your not at home. Work is work, and you probably can't change those hours, but if you go to a class or the grocery store at the same time all the time, try to make yourself less predictable.

a shot in the dark

If you hear a loud party and then some gunshots, chances are that the partygoers are just letting off some steam. Gunshots followed by squealing tires would indicate a drive-by shooting. Also, consider what day it is - big holidays are also days for random gunfire. It's difficult to distinguish the type of gun used in a shooting incident unless you're an educated gun person, but if the occurrence is close enough, you should at least be able to distinguish between a small-caliber weapon and a large-caliber weapon. The main thing to remember is to call 911 every time you hear gunfire!

gathering intel

When gathering intelligence about gunfire, begin by ascertaining the type of gunfire. Random gunfire is distinguishable from other types of shooting incidents such as urban sniper attacks, gang shootouts, domestic homicides and revenge shootings because 1) it is strictly an outdoor activity; 2) it is not usually part of other criminal activity such as drug dealing, assaults or robberies; and 3) random gunfire shooters do not fire their weapons to intentionally injure or kill people. Although random gunfire shooters believe their actions are harmless, what goes up must come down. Learn to distinguish between random gunfire and other shooting incidents.

gun control

Don't tolerate low-level lawlessness such as random gunfire. If you hear gunshots, call 911 immediately. We are law enforcement's eyes and ears. Police depend on us to gather the necessary intelligence that will bring such low-level lawlessness to an end. Remember, police can't respond instantaneously. It takes time to dispatch a resident's call to police. It takes time for police to arrive on the scene. Police usually give random gunfire incidents a low priority, meaning they generally stay on the scene to investigate for a relatively short time, because offenders are highly unlikely to remain at a gunfire location long enough for the police to arrive. But the more residents who get involved by alerting police to such incidents, the better our chances of influencing the delivery of police services. The single biggest problem with random gunfire is under-reporting.

invisible men

Don't be fooled into thinking that just because your neighbors can see local comings and goings that they will question anything unusual. Good thieves make themselves blend in.

getting to know you

Getting to know your neighbors will help them to immediately alert you of any suspicious behavior on your property. Notifying them when you're going away and how you can be contacted in case of emergency will allow you to be aware of a crisis as soon as it occurs. However, although your neighbors may be trustworthy, they may not spot anything different if a robber is at work inside your house. They don't have X-ray vision! So don't rely solely on your neighbors to keep an eye on your home while you're away. But definitely make them part of your overall security plan.

bulk bonanza

Leaving empty boxes from a new computer, DVD player or TV on the curb for bulky trash pickup advertises that you have things worth stealing in your home. Break boxes down or cut them up to conceal what they contained and put them in the trash cart.

stormy weather

If it's dark and rainy outside, be sure to leave a few lights on inside. Although most criminals have the good sense to get in out of the rain, some may actually look for signs of an empty house on a rainy day. Their first clue that no one is home is when they see that the house appears unoccupied.

check out

Yard and garage sales are a great way to make money from unwanted items, but beware. The stranger checking out your sale could also be checking out the vulnerable areas of your home. If you must keep the garage door open, make sure to store equipment and tools out of sight. Also, keep curtains closed so people won't see valuable electronics and other equipment inside your home.

an announcement

Spending most of your day in the backyard may be relaxing, but it leaves you clueless as to what's going on out front. Consider buying a wireless annunciator, which will alert you -- anywhere in your home -- when someone comes up your driveway or otherwise enters your property within 50 feet of its range.

just the facts

Compared with northern Dallas, a person in southern Dallas is more than twice as likely to be a homicide victim; almost twice as likely to be the victim of an assault; about one-and-a-half times as likely to be the victim of a residential burglary; slightly more likely to be the victim of rape or a car theft; and about as likely to be the victim of an individual robbery or other theft. How do we take back our neighborhood? By paying prompt attention to nuisance crimes, maintaining a good relationship with law enforcement and getting involved. Although law enforcement alone can't reverse the decline in some parts of our neighborhood, lawlessness can certainly accelerate it. Let's start by working diligently with Code Compliance to help us clean up our neighborhood. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The more we call and complain, the better our chances of getting effective action.

big difference

The difference between being assertive and aggressive is that being assertive is getting an intruder off your property before the person breaks into your home. It's not only keeping the intruder out of your home, but it's also getting that person off your property before the person can do any damage. Being aggressive is the mental and emotional equivalent of chasing the intruder off your property and down the street. While you might feel this is necessary in order to protect your property, you've crossed the line from assertive into aggressive. A lot of people -- who thought that they were "protecting" themselves -- cross the line from being assertive into being aggressive, and they unwittingly provoke a violent response.

auto motives

If you have a garage or carport that's more of a storage area for your stuff than a place to park your car, consider cleaning it out. Your vehicle is safer when it's housed in a garage or carport than when it's parked on the driveway. And it's safer when it's parked on the driveway than when it's parked on the street.

vulnerable vehicles

Many Hampton Hills residents park their cars on the street in front of their homes or in their driveways. Criminals seldom break into a car if they are unsure of the rewards. An item left on the seat is an obvious reward. While there are certain areas so bad that criminals will pop the trunk just to look, if there is nothing obviously to be gained, most will keep on looking until they find another car where there is something obvious to steal. "Out of sight, out of mind" is the most effective deterrent.

fear factor

Fear is one of the major issues that hinders personal safety. Believe it or not, this is more a problem of not understanding the nature of fear (and its purpose and benefits) than it is a problem with fear itself. Fear is your friend, not your enemy. The difference between fear and panic is knowing what to do. If you have a reliable, effective solution then fear is an asset. You know what to do and fear just makes you do it faster. On the other hand, if you don't know what to do -- or don't trust what you know -- then you will freeze in terror, because you have no clear goal or way to get there. Fear helps, panic hinders. Fear is your friend; panic is your foe.

don't be a victim

There is no reason to live in fear of crime and violence. There is, however, reason to take precautions. And in doing so, you will deter most criminals from choosing you as their victim. The reason is simple: There are thousands of people around who are easier, safer targets. The harder you make it for the criminal to victimize you, the more likely the criminal is to go elsewhere. You won't have stopped the criminal from being a criminal, but you will have stopped the criminal from choosing you as a victim.

not your type

There are four basic types of burglars: Opportunists, Smashers, Prowlers and Pros. An opportunist is someone who sees an opportunity -- an open garage door, an unlocked car -- then dashes in, grabs something and runs. Simple habits such as putting things away, closing and locking doors will deter most opportunists. A smasher tends to be young and scared or seriously into drug or alcohol addiction. They react on the spur of the moment, smashing and dashing their way through a burglary, grabbing anything they see that can be quickly pawned for cash to feed their addiction. The best protection against such criminals is whatever it takes to make your doors and windows withstand an all-out assault. A prowler may use smash tactics to gain entry, but won't dash through the burglary. Prowlers will look around and choose what they will take. They usually have criminal connections for channeling stolen goods. They know all the typical hiding places. They often work in teams, and can be in and out of your home in 10 minutes. The best defense is a good offense. Make a video record of all of your valuables, and mark each valuable with your driver's license number for identification. Pros are usually part of a crime ring that uses informants and spotters and point persons to get exactly what they want. They can target a single item in your home or strip the place bare -- and they can do it with precision and polish. These types of professionals are rare. What you are most likely to encounter are the first three. Fortunately, many of the measures that work against one work to deter the others.

not-so-smooth operators

Keep these two issues in mind: First, criminals don't care how much destruction they cause to get what they want; and second, criminals are professionals who make their living committing crimes. Criminals will cause thousands of dollars in damages to get something that may only net them $10 or $20. They'll rip the expensive stereo out of your car's dashboard to net a few bucks at a pawn shop. They don't care about the trauma they cause by destroying and stealing your property. That's why your crime deterrents must be able to withstand an all-out assault. Remember, criminals are professionals. The best lock in the world won't deter them if they can easily kick out the door frame. They won't bother picking a padlock when they can simply smash it with a sledgehammer. In other words, criminals have skills and knowledge that the average citizen doesn't have. They know what it takes to break into your home. What may stop you and me won't even slow down professional crooks. They know ways to quickly get through standard "egg shell" security measures. That's why you must tailor any theft protection system to counter a criminal's professional skills. That requires knowing something about criminals and how they operate.

lawn service

A well-kept lawn and landscape can serve as a deterrent. A burglar who sees a house that has a well-kept yard is likely to move on to the next house, because everyone knows a well-kept home is more likely to have layered security in place than a run-down home.