My Stuff's Gone
The Dollar Stretcher
by Gary Foreman
gary@stretcher.com

Each year criminals steal tens of billions of dollars from our homes and cars. This year we can expect over 2 million burglaries in the U.S.

Sure you carry homeowner's and auto theft insurance. Even so, if someone
steals your stuff you'll still lose time and some money. So let's take a
look at burglary prevention. We'll focus on how to keep it from happening
and will leave how to collect on insurance and get your things back for
another time.
      Police stress two things in crime prevention. Make it hard for the
thief to enter your house and take your things. And also make it easy for
him to get caught in the process of the theft or trying to sell your property.
      It's important to be able to see your house from the street. Burglars
don't want people to see them prying open a door or window. That means that
you should trim bushes and shrubs so that people walking or driving by can
get a clear view of your home. Yes, you'll give up a little privacy. But it
could be a reasonable price to pay.
      Avoid making announcements that invite burglars. Don't leave
attractive items (bikes, etc.) outside where they'll attract thieves. Boxes
from recently purchased computers, TV's and electronics put out on trash
day let everyone know that you have new goodies inside. Cut the boxes into
pieces small enough to fit inside your trash can so the thieves won't know
your business.
      Lighting is the cheapest form of prevention. There's a reason the bad
guys like the dark. They don't want to be seen and identified. Cost is not
an excuse for a lack of lighting outside your home. In most parts of the
U.S. you can leave a 100 watt bulb burning for 10 hours for less than a
penny. So for less than a nickel a night you'll have light all around your
home. And if the thought of leaving lights burning all night is just too
much to bear, you can buy lights with motion detectors.
      The police believe that if you can delay a burglar's entry by as
little as four minutes that they'll move on to an easier target. Burglars
know that to avoid getting caught it's important to get in quickly and
quietly. Approximately one third of all burglaries occur through unlocked
doors or windows. That sure makes for a quick and easy entrance.
      Make sure that your exterior doors really are secure. They should be
metal or have a solid wood core. Hollow wooden doors are not safe. Never
leave spare keys near the lock they open.
     If your hinge pins are on the outside, you need to take special steps
to keep the bad guys from removing the pins and then just taking the door
out of the frame. Special hinges are available or you can install a pin
that will prevent the door from being lifted out.
      A deadbolt is an important tool in keeping doors secure. Every
outside door should be fitted with a deadbolt. The best ones for crime
prevention require a key to unlock them from either side. But remember to
keep the key handy from the inside so that someone can get out quickly in
case of a fire.
      Sliding glass doors are a common entry point for burglars. Often
they're behind a home and out of sight. Tracks are often loose and allow
locks to be easily defeated. A pin inserted through a matching hole in the
door and frame from the inside can be sufficient to keep the door from
being jimmied. Or a piece of dowel rod can be laid in the bottom track to
prevent the door from opening. Other fancier locks are also available.
      Remember to lock your doors and windows even when you're home. In
some places one third of the robberies take place while someone is home.
Stumbling across a surprised thief can be very dangerous.
      Alarms are becoming increasingly popular. And a wide range are
available. Most residential units make a loud noise if triggered. Some
activate lights or automatically notify the police. An alarm system doesn't
need to be fancy to be effective. Anything that brings attention to the
burglar's actions should be enough to scare them off. If you do install an
alarm, check with your insurance company. Many offer rate reductions.
      Get in the habit of locking doors and windows before you leave the
house. Activate your alarm if you have one. Follow the same pattern every
time you leave so you don't forget anything.
      Burglars often use an attached garage to enter a home. It can be much
easier for them. Once he's inside the garage the thief can take his time
defeating any lock on the door that leads inside your residence. Since
they're hidden from view it's unlikely they'll attract any attention.
      If you're going to be away overnight or longer, you want to make it
appear like you're still home. Naturally you'll want to have the mail and
newspaper deliveries stopped. Set timers inside the house to turn on
televisions, radios and lamps at different times of the day. Ask a neighbor
to park their second car in your driveway.
      You can help to prevent property crimes. About two thirds of all
burglaries take place in homes or apartments. In 1992 the average amount
stolen in a burglary was $1,215. The good news is that since 1988 the
number of burglaries dropped 7%. Burglars are looking for an easy target.
Don't be one.
___________

Gary Foreman has worked as a Certified Financial Planner and purchasing
manager. He currently edits The Dollar Stretcher newsletter and website
www.stretcher.com You'll find hundreds of free articles to stretch your day and your budget.

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