The ‘CRIME EQUATION’
A criminal must have THREE (3) elements present before he/she will
attempt to commit a crime and succeed without being caught:
1) Desire, 2) Skill/Ability, and 3) Opportunity.
The criminal's desire, skill and/or ability are something to which he/she
will have control. To decrease the chance of becoming a victim, we must take
away the criminal's opportunity to succeed without being caught. How do we
accomplish this? Easy, we remove the factors to which we have control. It’s
simple math, let’s take a look. Every
crime has three factors that are added together . . .
Suspect + Victim + Location = Crime
Being that the suspect controls the desire, skill and/or ability we
recognize that as a ‘given.’ The variables that come into effect are whether
or not the suspect sees the victim as and the location as an “Easy Target.”
Thereby, allowing for the opportunity.
YOU!
CAN CONTROL
THE OUTCOME!
Make it difficult, time consuming, visible and noisy for an intruder to
enter your house.
Here are some prevention tips you can follow as a guide to “Stacking the
Deck Against Home Invasion” and ‘Reducing the Risks’ of your home being the
next target:
HOME AND COMMUNITY:
 | Adequate lighting—All entrances, driveways, etc. Motion detector
lights are good deterrents (keep extra bulbs, flashlights and batteries). |
| Leave lights on when going out at night; use timer lights when away
for an extended period. |
| Street address numbers should be large, clear of obstruction, & well
light so emergency personnel can find your home quickly. |
| Maintain good locks on all exterior doors (including basement/garage
door). |
|  Deadbolt with
at least 1 ½ inch throw |
| Thumb latches and keys in deadbolts should not be accessible from the
outside through glass next to door. (use the 40” rule). |
| Good locks are useless on weak doors. Need solid core or metal door
(use long screws-3-4 inches into frame). |
| Don't hide keys in mailboxes and planters or under doormats. Instead,
leave an extra set of keys with a neighbor or friend. |
| Sliding windows and doors: rod in tracks; special locks; pins through
frame |
| Chain locks are for privacy not security. |
| Peepholes – 190 degree-angle. USE Peephole.... to see who is at the
door.... be careful about children answering door. |
| Keep doors/windows locked. Windows should have secure locks or pins
for both closed and partially opened positions. Curtains and blinds should
be used for privacy. |
| Keep garage doors shut and locked. Door from garage to interior of
house should be locked also. |
| Trim shrubbery to maintain visibility. Landscaping should not allow
easy access to windows, doors or upper levels. Secure ladders and other
devices that allow for upper level access from outside. |
| ALARMS Systems are good deterrents. Use warning stickers/signs that
come with the
alarm. Consider a home alarm system that provides monitoring for burglary,
fire, and medical emergencies. Over-the-counter alarms are good deterrents
also. Research what is best for your home. |
| Give the impression that someone is home and that there is more than
one of you. Dogs are considered warning devices. |
| When you find something unusual at your house upon returning home, go
to the nearest and securest phone, call the police and wait for them
there. |
| Don’t imply you live alone by answering machine, name in phone book,
mailbox, door, etc. |
| Always respond to doorbells/telephone. |
| Don't open door until you know who is there - use the peephole. |
| Don't leave notes on the door when going out. |
| Vary your daily routine. At night, draw your blinds or draperies. |
| Be careful about giving out information over the phone, the mail, or
Internet. |
| Verify the identity of repairmen; if you are the least bit worries
call the company-”if it don’t feel right, it probably ain’t right.” |
| Don’t let strangers use your phone, call for them. |
