A Cop's Guide to Home Security

"Something's not right. Did I leave that door open? What the..."

And there it is. Your home's been burglarized. Strewn across the floor and around the house are the signs that somebody's invaded your personal space. Violated you and your privacy. More damaging than any financial loss you'll suffer is the loss of your feeling of personal security, your trust in neighbors and your fellow man.

Having your home invaded is a shattering experience, no matter the loss. Having somebody, especially a police officer tell you: "You should've locked your doors!" only makes it harder. (Nothing like a little guilt to add to your loss and fear!) Suddenly, you question your own intelligence, the trustworthiness of your neighbors, and the character of your town.

The sad truth is, burglary is extremely common, and most of us will experience it sometime in our lives. Reducing the likelihood that you'll experience this shock is not too difficult, but takes a little bit of attitude adjustment.

Step 1: Adjust your attitude. (The truth about humans.)

Some of the darkest, most bitter people on earth are young men and women who've been police officers for 3-5 years. At this phase in their career, they've seen all the horrible things people do to each other, and they've seen it in every social strata and neighborhood. They're questioning why they risk their lives every day for people who seem determined to make the world a horrible place. This is how you'll feel, suddenly, when your home no longer seems safe.

Later in their careers, these officers will mature into people who view the citizens like a father views his children. Basically good, but flawed and prone to selfish behavior. They'll do their job with less animosity at that point. Fewer lectures, less judgment, and more compassion, even for those who may not seem to deserve it. This is a mature attitude toward a flawed world. You want to reach this point, and not wallow in the angst and anger you first experience when victimized.

Humanity is a mixed bag of nuts. In every neighborhood, no matter how nice, are a few people with problems. Financial problems, substance abuse problems, compulsive behavior problems. You can continue to love your neighbors, while still making your home safer. Adjusting your attitude is the first step to home security, and if you do it right, it doesn't even make you paranoid.

My internal monologue goes like this: "My neighbors are good people. I like them. It's a nice neighborhood. But they have friends who visit, and their children have friends who visit. It would be unfortunate if one of those visiting kids came in, took my stereo, and made things awkward for my neighbor and me. I'll save us the trouble by locking the door as I leave. Also, it'll prevent any curious neighborhood kids from getting hurt when they get into the (drug cabinet, cleaning supplies, kitchen knives)." This way, I view "our community" as a good, safe one, but I take precautions that protect me, and my neighbor's children.

Step 2: Reduce desirability.

The effort to deter criminals starts at a distance from your home. Is your home visible from the street? Is there enough light on it at night that a neighbor (or passing police officer) could see unusual movement?

Make sure that entries to your home are visible from the street.

Make sure that any lighting provides adequate light on the home, without blinding viewers.

Make sure that valuables IN the home are not readily visible from outside the home.

Consider motion-sensing lights that draw attention to movement.

Consider a neighborhood initiative to get ALL the residents to put reasonable lighting on their property. This makes the whole area one that burglars will simply pass by.

Let potential burglars know they're being watched, with "neighborhood watch" signs, and "security system" signs.

Step 3: Target hardening.

Many people immediately rush to deadbolts and alarm systems, which are fine, especially in crime-prone neighborhoods. The truth is, smaller steps can be very effective. The first step is obviously that front door. As much as we hate to lock up, it's simply a good idea. If you hate keys, install a pleasant-looking digital keypad, so you can quickly punch a code to get in. We do it every day for debit cards, computer passwords, etc. Isn't your home worth the same small effort? Most burglars walk right in the front or rear door, and they're opportunists. If the door is locked, they move on. There are plenty of unlocked doors.Windows need some type of lock or deterrent. Again, burglars are not committed people. Thorny bushes beneath a window will often keep them out. You can install blocks inside the windows that limit movement to "less than burglar" dimensions, but still allow you to have fresh air. You could also use small, inexpensive motion sensors that make noise when the window is moved. Noise is a burglar's enemy. This is why dogs are so effective. Even small dogs will deter a burglar. In 18 years of police work, I only worked 2 burglaries where a dog was present. Both were "pocket dogs", so small and fearful they didn't even bark, but ran and hid.

Take a good look at your home from the street, and from all angles. If you were locked out and had to get in, where would you go? Make that effort as difficult as possible. (Then be sure not to lock yourself out!)

Step 4: Alarms and surveillance.

There are mountains of products along these lines, with your wallet and your patience being the only limiting factors. Be aware that if your alarm system alerts police, some departments charge you for false alarms. Most systems go through a "set-up" period of working out the bugs, where a number of false alarms are sent.

The most reliable alarms are dogs and elderly neighbors.! It's sad that so few of us know our neighbors today. There is no way to create more time in the day to meet the neighbors, but when you can squeeze it in, you'll be richly rewarded. The "nosy old lady" down the block will likely be the one who spots the unusual van parked beside your home. Make sure she knows that you welcome her phone call. Leave your work number with her so that police can reach you if she calls them to your home.

There are a number of devices on the market now that allow you to view your home from any internet-accessible computer. (One such very complete system) With these, you can monitor your own home from a distance. (Note* X-10's customer service is very helpful, and can steer you to the right system for your needs.) Being able to see your home while you're away gives tremendous peace of mind, and if you've got babysitters, house-sitters, (or just teenagers!) it can be a valuable tool to reinforce "good behavior".

Step 5: Help the police.

In the unfortunate event your preventative techniques do not work, you may find police help more effective and enthusiastic if you take some steps to help them.

First of all, make sure that they can find your home if they need to. Large, reflective numbers that are visible from any route of approach are critical. Clear, accurate descriptions of suspects would be appreciated; likewise, any suspicious activity that you notice may help them locate the intruder. "I hear dogs barking two blocks west of my house", or "footprints in the dew on the grass lead south, out of my back yard" will give responding officers some areas to check during their approach. Know the compass directions near your home. Giving directions by local landmarks may be pointless. They probably don't know where "Mr. Smith, the old guy" lives.

Be able to give them the name and phone number of any neighbors who may have seen something. This is where knowing your elderly neighbors can really pay off.

Of course, if you've got a video surveillance system that's caught the thieves on camera; you've just made their day!

Have a list of emergency contact information displayed prominently inside your front door, so if they come to your home while you're away, they can reach you.

Consider developing a relationship with local police officers before problems occur. Offer the use of your driveway for traffic enforcement. (What better deterrent can you have than a squad car in the driveway?) Send an invitation to the local police station, inviting officers to any neighborhood event you're aware of. Let them know they're welcome and appreciated. (Dare I say it? Send some donuts to the precinct! Okay, I said it! Forgive me, my brothers! Doesn't really have to be donuts; but food is always appreciated...)

I remember one neighborhood did a "Police appreciation week", where each day, some family sent some food items to the sub-station where I worked. I ended up driving around there, just to see what kind of people these were; I'd never been in the neighborhood before, because it was so quiet. It stayed that way, too.

Step 6: Be an advocate.

Depending upon where you live, police may have mountains of other cases to work, and the theft of a stereo may rate low on the priority list. If you want enforcement action, you may have to become a staunch advocate (or hire one), who lobbies all layers of the criminal justice system. Learn who does what in the system, (here is a good beginning) and contact each one, politely but firmly requesting action, and letting them know that you'll be following up. Like always, start nice before escalating. People WANT to help you, but they may be burned out and pessimistic about the prospects, and therefore less than enthusiastic. Give them some enthusiasm and understanding. Recognize that they may not unleash the "awesome powers of CSI" to solve your burglary. They'll be more likely to do so if you strike them as having taken responsible action to avoid the crime in the first place, and if you seem understanding of the limitations of the system.

It's an accepted truism in the business world that people will do business with you if they "Know you, Like you, Trust you."

Is this the relationship you have with the police?

Finally: be careful out there.

If you arrive home to find a door or window open, do not go into the house! Call the police from outside, or from a neighbor's house. Although daytime burglars are not normally dangerous, they can be, if cornered. A high percentage of burglars are drunk or high, which impairs normal thinking. Night-time burglars know before they go into a home that there's likely to be somebody home, so they are planning, or are prepared for violence. If your area has seen a number of these night-time burglaries, spend some time thinking about your commitment to safety, and determine if you are ready to consider defensive products like pepper spray, firearms, or other weapons. This is a big decision to make, and will affect the safety of every family member in your home (and any visitors). Keeping any weapons safe (but still available for quick use) is imperative. Simply "hiding" them WILL NOT WORK! Never underestimate the abilities of curious children! Be sure to receive training for any weapons you consider using, and know the laws pertaining to self-defense in your state.