Det. Brian Gangelhoff #706 North Mankato Police department 08/24/17 Burglary Prevention Det. Brian Gangelhoff #706 North Mankato Police department 08/24/17

BURGLARY defined According to Merrian-Webster Dictionary Burglary is defined as: The act of breaking and entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony (such as theft); broadly. The entering of a building with the intent to commit a crime.

Burglary Stats & Facts Burglars tend to avoid homes with security systems. Most burglaries take place between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby. The typical burglar resides within two miles of the targeted home/building. Most criminals can burglarize a home in less than ten minutes. Almost 30% of burglars enter a home through an unlocked door or window.

Burglary Stats & Facts Approximately 34% of burglars enter through the front door. Burglars usually go to the master bedroom first. The average property dollar loss per burglary is $2,251.00. Someone is home in approximately 3 out of 10 burglaries. Burglaries usually lack in physical evidence.

First thing First Home security checklist Do exterior lights illuminate your home? Is shrubbery trimmed so a burglar can’t hide near windows and doors? Are exterior doors made of solid hardwood? Is there a 180-degree viewer in the front door? Are sliding glass doors pinned or secured with auxiliary locks? Are sheet metal screws inserted through the upper track of the sliding glass door frame to prevent removal of the doors?

First thing First Home security checklist Are garage doors closed and locked when not in use? Are doors locked at all times? Are deadbolt locks, with a minimum one inch throw, installed on exterior doors? Are heavy duty strike plates mounted on exterior door frames? Are windows secured with auxiliary locks or pinned with a nail? Do you report suspicious persons or activity to the police immediately?

Outside your home Trim shrubs, so windows and doors can be fully viewed from the street. Maintain adequate lighting, especially at vulnerable entry points. Maintain adequate lighting on house numbers and urge your neighbors to do the same. Lock up ladders and tools so that burglars cannot use them to enter your home. Lock all valuables, such as lawn mowers and bicycles. Always lock garage doors and doors from garage into your house.

Deter burglary Exterior Doors All exterior doors should be made of solid wood, steel or fiberglass. Install a 180-degree, wide angle viewer (peephole) to exterior doors. DO NOT rely on door chain latches. Dead locking / spring latch ARE NOT ENOUGH

Deter burglary Exterior Doors REMEMBER – that locks cannot make a home burglary-proof, but they can discourage forced entry.

Deter burglary Sliding Glass Door It is easy for burglars to pry a sliding glass door from its track. To prevent this place a length of wood in the lower track. Make sure it fits snug and cannot be popped out of the track by an intruder. OR Buy a sliding door bolt that locks the door to the floor frame. OR Buy a Charley bar, that attaches to the side frame and folds down across the glass, bracing itself against the opposite frame.

Deter burglary Garage Door Drill a hole in the track large enough for a padlock to be attached. Steel pins can be used in place of the padlock. Electric garage door openers with automatic locking devices offer good security against burglaries. Always keep your remote (garage door opener) in a safe place. If your remote is lost or stolen contact the dealer/manufacturer for instructions on how to change the frequency it operates on. Always unplug the opener when on vacation and set the steel pins. Hang curtains over garage windows. Garage service door and door from garage into house should have deadbolt.

Deter burglary Windows Double Hung Windows: A stick or wood dowel can be wedged between the top and bottom portions of the window. Casement Windows: Casement windows provide good security. Make sure the cranking mechanism works properly and that there is no play between the window and frame. Remove the operator handle. If someone breaks the glass it will be difficult to reach inside and crank open the window.

Deter burglary Windows Sliding Glass Window: Place a length of wood in the lower track. Make sure it fits snug and cannot be popped out of the track by an intruder. Buy a bolt that locks the window to the window frame. Buy a Charley bar, that attaches to the side frame and folds down across the glass, bracing itself against the opposite frame. Security Glazing: Burglary-resistant glass and other transparent materials that are shatter-resistant and virtually unbreakable can be installed to replace window and door glass. These materials can give extra security against forced entry.

Deter burglary Alarms & Cameras Consider installing alarms and cameras. They are not universal solutions to home burglaries and aren’t substitutes for locks. The purpose of alarms and cameras is to deter potential intruders. Let it be known that your home has cameras and an alarm. Make sure the alarm and cameras are on and know how to use them. The alarms must sense and signal an intrusion, followed by notification of the police.

Going somewhere? When leaving your home make your home appear occupied. Ask a trusted neighbor to check your home for anything unusual. Have someone mow the lawn or shovel the sidewalks. Your mail and newspapers should be stopped or picked up. Use automatic timers to your lights and set them for various times. Never leave lights, radio or TV on constantly.

Going somewhere? When leaving your home make your home appear occupied. 6. Turn the volume on your telephone / answering machine on low or off. 7. Tell a neighbor where you can be reached in an emergency. 8. Don’t use social media to broadcast your absence. 9. Call the NMPD and have your address put on the “Resident Checklist”. 10. Always lock doors and windows when you leave.

Prosecution If charged with the crime of burglary an individual could be convicted of a felony or gross misdemeanor, depending on the elements of the crime.