Home Security
by David Barth, written in 1987
Introduction
Effective home security need not be expensive. A good security setup is one that deters potential intruders from entering your home. It should make your home an
unattractive target to be entered. I write from the standpoint of having studied home security after being victimized (like closing the gate after the horse is gone). I
hope these tips help make your home a more secure place to live.
Intruders come in many forms, but they have one thing in common: they are uninvited. They can vary from the curious neighbor child who wanders in, to vandals who
have little respect for the property of others, to thieves whose object is to obtain as many valuables and money as possible in the shortest amount of time, and, finally,
to the professional burglars who have shopping lists of items they can easily fence.
Home Security Audit
The first step in developing a secure residence is to complete a security audit. Your local police department may provide a assistance with a security, or, with the help
of this guide, you can do one yourself. The audit should include both the inside and outside of your home.
First, audit the outside of your home. With a pad of paper and a pencil to take notes, walk around your house, pretending that you want to get inside.
Doors
Start with the doors. Do you keep them locked at all times? Does the door have a window that can be broken so that an intruder could reach in and open the door from
the inside? In the summer do you keep the screen door latched? Is the latch strong? Do you keep a house key "hidden" under the door mat, above the door sill, in the
porch light fixture, or somewhere else outside the home? Hiding a key outside your home is not a good practice because a good thief knows all the likely hiding places
(including fake rocks), and he can check them all in a matter of minutes. If you need to leave a key outside your home, you may give it to a trusted neighbor or install a
real estate-type of lock-box that fits on the outside knob. However, a lock-box is not break-proof, and may not the best solution for keeping a key.
Each exterior door to your home, including a door to an attached garage, should have a dead bolt type lock even if there is a lock in the door knob. Locked door knobs
can be disabled in seconds with a quick twist of a pipe wrench. Dead bolt locks with cone-shaped necks are less vulnerable to the pipe wrench technique.
An exterior door with glass panes is easy to enter with quick thrust of a gloved hand to break the glass. Then the intruder can reach inside and unlock it. While doors
with window panes may be architecturally attractive, they are very vulnerable. Solid exterior doors are more secure. Small glass panes in a door may be satisfactory
from a security standpoint, if it is physically impossible to reach the interior locks from the outside when the panes are removed.
Door Jamb Pins
Door jamb pins are nails or screws that make it difficult to remove the door even after the hinge pins are pulled. The nails or screws are inserted into the dcor jamb
where the back edge of the door fits against the jamb. They are left sticking out of the jamb one or two inches. A hole is drilled into the back edge of the door for the
pin to fit in when the door is closed.
If the intruder tries to open the door by removing the hinge pins, the back side of the door is held in place by the door jam pins. Most doors have their hinges on the
inside of the house where they are inaccessible to an intruder, but some doors, such as those leading to an attached garage, often have hinges on the garage side.
All an intruder has to do is gain entry to the garage and then remove the hinge pins on the door to the house and remove it from the door jamb. The locked side cannot
prevent this. However, with door jamb pins in, place, the door is more difficult to remove. The security of the door jamb pins depends on their individual strength and the
number of them used.
Other doors you might consider installing jamb pins on are those which you would not want an intruder to be able to exit through when they were locked from
both sides.
The overall security of the door also depends on the type of lock used and the composition of the door. Many homes use hollow interior doors which are easily kicked
in. The most critical of these interior doors are those leading to an attached garage and those leading to a basement. It is advisable to keep basement and garage
access doors dead-bolted whenever you are not at home and during the time you are sleeping. You should seriously consider replacing these hollow doors with solid
wood or metal doors to make it more difficult for an intruder who gains access to your basement or garage to force his way into your home. An additional benefit to
installing tougher doors is that they may help retard the spread of a fire in the home.
Door Viewers
While window panes in doors are discouraged, it is very important for you and all members of your household to be able to identify who is outside each of the doors in
the house, including the overhead garage door. Most hardware stores carry a small door viewer that can be installed in the door at eye level so you can see who is
outside.
You should consider the eye-level of other members in your household (such as children), who should be provided with a viewer at their eye-level. The overhead garage
door should also have a viewer in it so that you can see the area outside the garage before you open the door.
Viewers are ineffective at night unless the viewing area is lighted. You should look through each viewer at night to ensure the lighting outside your home is sufficient
for identification of someone near the door. A good practice at night is to never open the door for anyone you cannot positively identify. When you do open a door,
you should keep it chained to prevent an intruder from pushing it open. Although a chain can be broken with a hard shove on the door, at least it may slow the uninvited
guest enough so that you may be able to escape the house through a different door and run to the safety of a neighbor's home.
Garages
Garages must be secure also, even if the garage is not attached to your home. Although an unattached garage cannot be used to gain direct entry to the house, it can
provide a "base of operations" for intruders. It can give them a temporary place to hide and collect stolen property. It is also dangerous if you unknowingly enter the garage
when one or more intruders are in it.
Attached garages give the intruder the time to work or entering your home, unseen. Garage doors and windows should be kept as secure as those in your home. You
should never leave the overhead door open unattended, even in the summertime. An open garage door is an invitation to any intruder to search your car and enter your
house.
Windows
Windows are very sensitive areas from a security aspect. Even with storm windows installed, a gloved fist or any hard object, such as a brick or rock, laying around
outside the home, may be used to break the glass. Once the glass is broken, the intruder can pull out the large pieces of the broken pane and may either crawl through
the window or reach in to unlock it. You cannot depend on the sound of breaking glass to alert your neighbors, especially in winter when everyone has their doors and
windows closed. If they hear a sound, they will usually stop for a moment and listen, then forget about it.
Basement Windows
Basement windows are a special problem because they are usually at or below ground level, and once an intruder is crouched in the window well, he is mostly out of
sight, and the sound of glass breaking will be somewhat muffled.
There are several approaches to take in regard to protecting basement windows. The most important thing to consider is the safety of your family and guests in the
event that you must exit the home (for example, in case of a fire). All windows, as well as those in the basement, should be viewed as a potential escape route, which
makes security decisions more difficult.
If you place an iron grille over the top of the window well, there should be a way to open it by someone trying to escape from the basement.
A grille over the window well which is covered by a plastic window well cover provides some security, especially if both are secure from the outside but can be opened
from the inside.
Planting a cactus or thorn bash in front of the window well can dissuade an intruder to attempt entry. The more road blocks an intruder finds, the less likely he is to
attempt to break in.
Perimeter Of Your House
Another aspect of home security involves the area of ground next to the foundation. Crushed gravel surrounding the house, extending several feet from the foundation
is a barrier. Anyone walking close to the house may be more easily heard walking on the gravel than they would if there were grass or another soft surface. (Gravel on
top of layers of plastic sheets can also help keep moisture out of the basement). The gravel size should not be so large that it can be used to smash
windows.
The Roof
Another important aspect of security that is often overlooked by people is the accessibility to the roof of the house. An experienced intruder views access to the roof
another possible method of entry to the house, perhaps through an open or unlocked second story window. Many people take security of second story windows less
seriously because they forget that an agile intruder can scramble to the top of a roof quickly and quietly in search of a way to enter. The same precautions taken with
first story, ground level, and basement windows should be taken with second story windows.
Interior Audit
After you have thoroughly inspected the exterior of your home and taken notes about all the areas that need further consideration, you should do the interior security
audit. From the inside of the house, inspect all doors to insure they have dead-bolt locks. Such a lock comes in two major configurations. There is the type that has a
thumb turn on the inside and the other style has a key lock on the inside.
The thumb turn is preferable because it allows occupants of the home to easily unlock the door in an emergency. A dead-bolt lock that is keyed on both sides does not
provide this safety, although it does prevent a burglar from using the door to move furniture and large items out of the house. Locks requiring a key on both sides should
be used only on doors that could not be used as an emergency escape route.
Windows can be emergency exits, too. Window locks should be easily be opened from the inside of the home, but not as easily by someone reaching in through a
broken pane.
Some companies sell and install decorative bars for windows. Again, the safety of your family members and guests rules out the use of bars on windows except in
those rare cases where a window could not be used as an emergency exit. If you need advice or this subject, consult your local fire marshal.
At night, if you leave the window coverings or drapes open, any person outside can see inside your home, but you can't easily see them. A thief can quickly survey
the contents of your home and even get a good idea of the layout of your house. As a precaution, you should always keep your drapes and blinds closed after dark.
Not only does this add to your home security, it provides more privacy.
The Contents Of Your Home
After you have reviewed the windows and doors, you should consider the contents of the home. After all, it is the contents that a burglar is after. Valuable jewelry
should not be left in plain sight. And it should not be stored in an easily recognizable jewelry box that a thief would immediately find and open. Instead, store your
inexpensive jewelry in the jewelry box, and, if you must keep some valuable jewelry in the house, hide it well. Wherever you hide the good stuff, it would eventually be
discovered by an experienced thief. However, time is on your side because burglars usually try to limit the time they spend in a home looking for valuables. They
usually "skim off the cream" of valuables readily available and then leave. The jewelry and other small valuables you do not use for everyday should be stored in a bank
safe deposit box.
Valuables that are not usually candidates for hiding include your television, stereo equipment, video recorder, home computer equipment, and expensive decorations.
You should mark the chassis of all such equipment with your social security number, using a sharp tool (such as an awl) or an electric engraving tool, sold at many
hardware and discount stores for under $20.00. Some police departments may keep a marking tool on hand to loan you. They encourage marking personal items
through programs such as "Operation ID."
When you have marked your household items, some law enforcement agencies will give you stickers to attach to your doors and windows declaring that the contents
of your home are marked. Although this may not keep a burglar from entering your home and helping himself to your possessions, it does let him know that you are
security conscious and have taken steps to protect your property. If printed warning stickers are not available, print or type your own notice on slips of paper, and tape
them to the inside of your windows and doors so that they can be read from outside the house.
Insurance
There is no substitute for a home insurance policy. It should cover the house and its contents. Some policies cover the contents of your car. If you have any high-value
items such as jewelry, you should consult your insurance agent. You may have to purchase a special rider on your policy to cover them.
Inventory Of Contents
Before you visit your agent, you should inventory all items in your home, including large items such as furniture. Write a concise description, the manufacturer, model
number, serial number (if it has one), color, and any other distinguishing features that might make it easily identifiable. You should do this so that if you are burglarized
you will know exactly what you had in the home. The best way to organize your list is by room. That way you can take the list to a given room and quickly determine if
anything is missing.
Another helpful inventory tool is a camera. You can photograph each room of the house to provide a visual inventory of all your household belongings. Valuable items
should be individually photographed. You don't have to be a professional photographer to take the pictures. Any camera with a flash unit should be able to do the job,
however, there are companies that specialize in recording home contents. If you own (or wish to rent) a video camera, it can be an excellent method of recording your
inventory
You should not keep large sums of cash in your home. Even jar of quarters or a full piggy bank becomes pocket change for thief. If you do need to have a large sum of
money in the home (for example, if you are going on vacation) buy travelers checks and keep the receipts separate from the checks so you can get reimbursed if they
are stolen.
Vacations
When you are planning a vacation, include in the plan your home security precautions. Decide if you will give a house key to a trusted neighbor or other person to
periodically check on the house. A very important item is to have your mail and newspapers picked up. Although stopping delivery of mail and newspapers is used by
some people, doing so is an indication that your are away. Also, it is likely you will receive deliveries of fliers and non-postal shipments that cannot be stopped. As
these items pile up on your front porch, they show that you are out of town.
It may be best to keep the mail and papers coming and have someone regularly pick them up and hold them for your return. You should have someone periodically
check your house while you are gone. Provide them with instructions on contacting the local police, calling you, making arrangements for pets, etc., if trouble occurs.
You can ask trusted neighbors, especially those who can view your home from theirs, to keep an eye on your house while you are away. You should provide them with
instructions or what to do if they see something unusual (such as a moving van backed up to your door).
In the event you are informed that a loss has occurred, you should call the local police in your home town, notifying them of your location and the situation at your
home as you understand it. Phone your insurance agent as soon as possible.
The outside of your house should look normal during your absence. You should have someone keep your lawn mowed in the summer and your driveway and walks
shoveled in winter. There is no better indication that the house is vacant than tall grass or virgin snow drifts. Also, your lawn watering schedule should be continued,
if possible. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, continue your watering schedule, or you may find a neighbor, friend, relative, or professional lawn service to
keep your lawn watered.
You might consider leaving some outside lights on while you are away, but to prevent this from being a signal that the house is vacant, you should begin leaving the
exterior lights on several weeks prior to departure. Another security decision is how to leave the interior of your home during your absence. Your objective should be to
make the home appear "lived in." You might consider leaving the drapes closed so that at night they will be set as they would if you were at home. (You may have to
move some of your house plants to insure they get enough sun.) Set up some inexpensive electric timers to turn the lights on and off at the times that you do when
you are at home. Another possible action is to set a timer to turn on the television or a radio to help give your home the appearance that it is occupied. If you have an
answering machine, do not program it to tip off the caller that you will be out of town.
At the time that you leave, try to make as little fuss as possible regarding your departure. The optimum departure would look like you were just stepping out to go to
the grocery store. One way to lower the profile of your departure is to load the suitcases into the car while it is still in the garage with the garage door closed. The
worst departure scenario, from a security standpoint, would be to hold a block party celebrating your imminent vacation.
If you leave a car behind, park it in the middle of the garage and lock it to prevent thieves from parking their own vehicle inside your garage to load it with
your valuables.
If you have an automatic garage door opener, you should unplug it. This will deactivate it. Intruders have been known to use devices that transmit many frequencies
on radio bands used by garage door openers to enable them to open nearly any garage door. Lock the garage door if it has a lock.
Alarm Systems
These tips may help you and your family members become more aware of maintaining security in your home. Beyond these steps, many companies offer various
types of alarm systems. It is up to you to decide if you want to install an alarm system. For information about alarm systems, check the yellow pages for vendors
in your area.
You must remember that there is no guarantee that security precautions will prevent an uninvited person from entering your home. The intent of setting up and
maintaining a security plan is to make your home less desirable as a target for intruders.
Educate Your Family
Your family members should be shown how the security program or system works so that they can use it, too. You should teach them how to use the electric
timers, door viewers, how to set the drapes for night and day, and how to exit the house in an emergency. You should go over security procedures with them such
as when not to let anyone in the house and when and how to make emergency telephone calls to police, fire, and ambulance services. Post emergency phone
numbers near each phone in the house.
Disclaimer
These suggestions do not guarantee that their adoption will prevent someone from illegal entry into your home. Consult a security expert, the local police
department, and security service companies for additional information before making significant expenditures.
The contents of this booklet reflect the author's experience and results through research. The author is not engaged in rendering any legal or professional advice.
The services of a professional person are recommended if advice or assistance is needed. The author disclaims any personal loss or liability caused by utilization
of any information presented herein.