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Keep Safe When You're at Home
Most thieves follow a pattern. First,
they like to operate without forced entry. Many burglaries
occur weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., not at night. Many
thieves choose to enter your home casually, by way of an unlocked
door, so that an observing neighbor would assume nothing was
amiss.
Be aware that many burglars are dangerous
criminals. A substantial proportion of violent crimes that
occur in the home are committed during household burglaries.
When at home, there are several things
you can do to make it harder for burglars. Good lighting is
one of the greatest deterrents to a thief. Burglars love poorly
lighted homes, so replace burned-out bulbs quickly. Consider
installing fixtures or lawn lights in dark areas. Floodlights
mounted on the corner of your home can light the walls of
the house in both directions. Such lights are inexpensive,
relatively easy to mount and are highly effective in reducing
break-ins.
Keep your shrubs trimmed; they make
a good place for a thief to hide. Dense shrubs can also provide
a makeshift ladder for the intruder to climb through a window.
Be aware that thieves can gain entry by removing your window
air conditioner. Make sure your unit is fastened to the sill
or the window frame.
Try to avoid regular routines that make
it obvious you are away from home at specific times of the
day or night. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but vary the
routines of departure and arrival as much as possible. It's
also wise to keep your curtains and drapes pulled shut at
night.
Join a "Neighborhood Watch"
group. A manufactured home park community is a natural for
neighborhood watch. Members of some manufactured home communities
simply pledge to call the police or deputies when they spot
something suspicious, while members of other groups actually
patrol the neighborhood in scheduled shifts. Local police
departments have information on starting a neighborhood watch
program, and many have special officers who will help you
and your neighbors set one up.
Visit our pages on stopping burglars while you're gone and home security devices for more information.
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