Home Security
The ABC’s of Home Security
A. Know your locks: Did you know that in almost half of the residential
burglaries, the thief simply enters the residence through an unlocked door or
unsecured window.
Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock.Key-in-knob locks alone are not enough.
Sliding glass doors can offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by installing commercially available locks or putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To prevent the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.
Lock double-hung windows with key locks or "pin" windows by drilling a small hole into a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. Secure basement windows with grills or grates. Always remember fire safety precautions.
Instead of hiding keys around the outside of your home, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.
B. Know your doors: A lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking
your car door but leaving the window down.
All outside doors should be all medal or solid wood.
If your doors don’t fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.
Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside.
C. Check the outside: Look at your house from the outside. Make sure you
know the following tips:
Thieves hate bright lights. install outside lights and keep them on at night.
Keep your yard clean. Prune back shrubbery so it doesn’t hide doors or windows. Cut back tree limbs that a thief could use to climb to an upper-level window.
Clearly display your house numbers so police and other emergency vehicles can find your home quickly.
If you travel, create the illusion that you are home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in the different areas of your house throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.
Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. Don’t let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a trusted neighbor pick it up.
Make a list of your valuables- VCRs, stereos, computers, jewelry. Take photos of the items, list their serial numbers and descriptions. Check with law enforcement about engraving your valuables.
If all of these steps are taking, the chances of your becoming a victim are greatly reduced. An additional preventive step you may want to consider is an alarm. Alarms can be a good investment, especially if you have many valuables in your home, or live in an isolated area or an area with a history of break-ins. Consider the following tips:
Check with several companies before you buy so you can decide what level of security fits your needs. Do business with an established company and check references before signing a contract.
Learn how to use your system properly! Don’t "cry wolf" by setting off false alarms. People will stop paying attention and you will probably be fined.
You should also consider starting a Neighborhood Watch in your neighborhood. If you have further questions concerning home security, contact your local Crime Prevention officer or call the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Unit at (706) 272-3273. Or send us e-mail
This Web page was designed by
Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office
Crime Prevention Unit
Lt. Wayne Mathis, Supervisor
P.O. Box 1572
Dalton, GA. 30722
(706) 272-3273
