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The
Worth Police Department is offering
FREE HOME
INSPECTIONS
to determine how easy it isfor a burglar to enter your
home.
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The
inspection includes entry doors, windows,
lighting, and shrubs or other growth that
can obscure visibility.
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contact
us by email
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Crime
Prevention Tips
*FACTS
Every
14.6 seconds, a burglary
takes place in the
U.S.
Most buglaries occur between 10am & 3pm
Burglars spend an average time of 8 to 12 min
in your home
Homes without security
systems are about 3 times likely to be broken
into than homes with security systems.
First
stop: Usually
the master
badroom because
most people
keep their
valuables
there.
Favorite
Items: Cash,
jewelery,
electronics
equipment,
silver, guns,
and other
items easy
to sell or
pawn.
Dresser drawers, bedroom closets, and the freezer
are some of the first places a crook will look!
The typical house burglar
is a male teen-ager who lives within a couple
of miles of your home. The chance of being
victimized by a professional thief is low.
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Doors
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Beware
of hollow-core door construction for exterior or
security doors. Watch for poor locks which are
easily forced or kicked open. For
exterior protection you need solid core doors and
quality locks. Spring Locks/Latches can not be
opened with a credit card or knife. Many
burglars enter homes through improperly secured
sliding glass doors. Additional
locks and security measures will prevent the door
from being opened or lifted out of the track Double
doors need solid security as they are easily jimmied
or forced open. Flush lever bolts installed at
the top and bottom of the doors are recommended.
Doors with glass windows require double key deadbolt
locks. The key to a double
key deadbolt lock should be left in the lock at
all times when someone
is home to ensure easy exit in the event of a fire
or other emergency. Beware
of exterior doors that open out as hinge pins can
be removed. Install
a Door Viewer to let you see someone standing outside
your door. |
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Garage Doors
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| Standard locks
on garage doors are easily pried. Cane bolts and hasps
are excellent protection. Any door leading from the garage
into the house should be securely locked |
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Windows
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| Sliding
glass windows should be given the same attention
as sliding glass doors. Use
the same supplementary locks or screws in the frame
to prevent the window from being lifted out of
the track. Double hung windows can be similarly
secured by a pin or screw which limits how far
a window can be opened. You
also may purchase special key locks for windows
at a hardware store. Crank
windows are easily secured. The latch should close
properly with the window tight. |
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Other
Precautions
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| Burglars search
for homes that appear to be unoccupied. A car in the
driveway, motion-sensitive exterior lights, interior
lights, and radios and TVs on timers all give the impression
that someone is home. Stop newspaper and mail delivery,
and have neighbors watch your home. Buglers
want to spend no more than 60 seconds breaking into a
home. Measures that increase this time include deadbolt
locks, bars on windows, and pins in sash windows. Seeing
these may change a burglar's mind. Don't give
burglars any help. Clear shrubs and trees around your
home. Don't give burglars a place to hide. Secure tool
sheds and ladders. Some thieves will steal tools from
around your property and use them to break windows and
doors. |
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Tips
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Engrave
your Driver's License number on valuables. Do
not use other forms of identification as it can
be used against you in identity theft or it may
not be enough for the police to identify your property. Photograph
/ video tape your belongings and maintain receipts
and serial numbers. This helps police and the insurance
company identify what property you had before a
loss. Keep this information
in a safe place or even a bank safety deposit box
in case of fire. |
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Dogs:
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that bark loudly are a deterrent to burglary. Certain
breeds of dogs are more feared by burglars. Consult
experts when considering training a dog for security
purposes. Dogs not trained
properly can present certain dangers and liabilities. |
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Alarms.
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Alarms
can be a deterrent to burglary. Alarm stickers
should be visible in every window that can be
breached. Loud sirens should be used and the
signal should be tied in with our watch office
/ dispatch center either directly or though an
alarm company. Some alarm
systems are expensive. Before investing large
amounts of money, feel free to contact the Worth
Police Department crime prevention department
for advise. |
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Security Lighting
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| Burglars
and Thieves generally do not like operating in
well lit areas. Sometimes the use of motion detector
lights gives the appearance that someone is watching
the premise and has been alerted to their presence.
Cars parked outside are safer in the driveway with
the outside lights on. |
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PLEASE LOCK YOUR CAR!
Leaving a car unlocked is an
open invitation to theft.
DO NOT LEAVE GPS Locaters in your car.
Thieves will break the
window to obtain the GPS equipment.
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Internet
Safety Tips
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1:
Never post your real name online
2: Never post your real hometown online
3: Never post your real state online (countries are okay.)
4: Always approch others with caution, they may not be who
they say they are.
5: Tell your friends not to give your information out to
just anyone, or without your permission.
6. Keep seperate passwords for everything.
7: If you're under 18, do not post your age online. |
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Make
sure your friends know these seven rules.
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Links
from the
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Senior
Fraud
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Internet
Safety
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Identity
Theft
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*
reference for statistics: Washington Post
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