Home Security Tips from Experts – Alameda, CA Police Department Offer Their List

When it comes to preventing burglaries, your local police department is a great resource. After all, they respond to every reported break-in, and they see which defensive measures work the best, which ones don’t work at all, and how burglars act. That’s why I like to share police advice when I see it – like this recent article featuring security tips from the Alameda, CA Police Department (APD). Their list has a lot in common with FrontPoint’s Top 10 Home Security Tips, so I feel good about that. Here’s some of the relevant detail, submitted by Det. Craig Vreeland, of the APD. I’ve focused on what I think are the important tips: for the full APD list, click on the link above. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in residential burglaries throughout the city of Alameda. Since July, we have investigated over 150 reported burglaries, most of which occurred during the daytime hours. The typical points of entry were unlocked sliding glass doors and windows. From these facts, it is apparent that a friendly reminder is in order for residents to stay vigilant and not become complacent about home security. Don’t just Install Locks – Use Them Please don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the relatively low crime rate in Alameda. Safeguard your family and property by taking a few extra moments before you leave to ensure all your windows and doors are closed and locked. By doing this, you take away the criminal’s opportunity and reduce your chances of becoming a victim. The following is a list of questions that are contained in a security survey pamphlet that is available to the public at the Alameda Police Department. Every time you answer “No” to a question, it points out a possible weakness in the security of your home. As you eliminate the “No” answers, you improve your security. Safe practices:

• Do you keep a list and photograph of all valuable property with their serial numbers?
• Do you keep excess cash and other valuables in a safety deposit box?
• Do you plan so that you do not need to “hide” a key under the doormat or similar area?
• Have you told your family what to do if they discover a burglar breaking into your house?
• Are your trees and shrubs trimmed to eliminate hiding places?
• Are motion sensing lights installed around the perimeter of your house?
• Do you leave a porch light on all night?
• Do you have an alarm installed and in proper working order?
• Do you go through the same routine when securing your home each night or when leaving to insure all doors and windows are locked?

Door and entry areas:

• Are your exterior doors of solid core construction?
• Do entry doors have a wide-angle peephole viewer?
• Do exterior doors have cylinder type deadbolt locks with at least one-inch throw and in good repair?
• Do doors without cylinder locks have a heavy bolt or a similar device that can only be locked from the inside?
• Do you know everyone who has a key to your house?
• Do you lock your car and take the keys out even when it is parked in the garage?

Windows:

• Are your window locks properly and securely mounted?
• Do you keep your windows locked when they are closed?
• Do you use a device that allows you to lock a partially opened window?

No home is completely burglar proof. Experience has shown that you can substantially reduce your chances of being burglarized by reducing easy opportunities. If you notice suspicious activity around your neighborhood such as unfamiliar vehicles or people, please call the Alameda Police Department at 337-8311. Remember, you the residents are our eyes and ears. With your help we can put a dent in the number of burglaries in Alameda. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves – and of course, we like the question about having an alarm system installed, and keeping it in proper working order. And, of course, you need to use it! More and more families are arming their system in the “Stay” mode when home at night, not just when they are away during the day or on vacation. Since only one in five US homes has a monitored alarm system, you may be shopping – and that is where FrontPoint comes in. We provide peace of mind with systems that are safer, smarter, simpler, more affordable, and virtually impossible to defeat. And the reviews tell you a lot – you’ll quickly see why we’re the #1 ranked alarm company in the US – and we earned that spot with technology, pricing, and customer satisfaction. So take a tip from us: the best home security starts with the best system from the best company – and that's FrontPoint.