West Valley has been experiencing burglaries in which the culprits will knock on the front door of the victim's home, multiple times. When residents don't answer the door, they will force entry through a door or window, assuming the homeowner is away.
Good locks -- and good neighbors who watch out for each other – are the most effective deterrents to burglars.
CHECK THE LOCKS
Did you know that in almost half of all completed residential burglaries thieves entered through unlocked doors or crawled through unlocked windows?
• Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock.
• 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.
• 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.
CHECK THE 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 metal or solid wood.
CHECK THE OUTSIDE
• Burglars 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.
• If you travel, create the illusion that you're at home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in 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. And don't let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick it up.
