Safety For You and Your Home
Community Education Specialist
Mary Browning
Naperville Police Department
Objectives
• To learn techniques useful in keeping
yourself and your property safe
• Home Security
Who are Victims of
Crime
• Anybody
• Anywhere
• Any time
• More crimes of violence occurred during
daylight hours than between 6pm and 6am
(DOJ, 1998)
Crime Statistics
2014 Naperville
Property
Personal
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Murder 1
Sexual Assault 10
Battery 84
Robbery 20
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Theft 1416
Arson 3
Burglary 175
Motor Vehicle
Theft 37
Crime Prevention Triangle
For a crime to occur there
must be three elements
present.
Which one can
we effect?
Opportunity
Crime Prevention Triangle
For a crime to occur there
must be three elements
present.
Which one can
we effect?
Opportunity
Make Your Home A Lousy Target
Removing the Opportunity
There are two types of barriers we can use
to eliminate the opportunity to commit a
crime:
• Physical Barriers
• Psychological Barriers
Removing The Opportunity
Physical Barriers
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Locks
Doors
Windows
Fences
Chains
Alarm Systems
Dogs
Removing the Opportunity
Psychological
Barriers:
• Alarm Systems
• Dogs
• Lights
• Signs
Crime Prevention for the Home
Removing the Opportunity
# 1 Strategy criminals use to
enter your home……….
Removing The Opportunity
Physical Barriers
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Locks
Doors
Windows
Fences
Chains
Alarm Systems
Dogs
Statistics
Statistics
• In a survey by the National Crime Prevention
Council: 34% do not generally lock their
car doors whether parked or moving
• In 2010 there were 586 BMV’s in
Naperville, over 70% of them were
committed to cars that were unlocked
Removing the Opportunity
LOCKS
• Use them!
• Install deadbolt locks-they can’t be “popped”
like spring-latch locks can
• Deadbolts should be at least 1 1/2”
• Don’t forget the basement door or the door
from the house to the garage
Removing the Opportunity
LANDSCAPING
• Don’t block entrances or create hiding places
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with your plants and/or bushes
Plant thorny or spiny bushes to discourage entry
Keep all landscaping well trimmed
Position trees so they don’t hide windows, walkways or
doors
Consider gravel instead of mulch, it’s noisy
Don’t create roof access
• No tree branches below 6 feet
• Remove ladders when finished with them
Removing the Opportunity
LIGHTS
• Exterior lighting
• Doors: house and garage
• Entryways and ground-level windows
• Out of reach so can’t be broken/unscrewed
• Motion detectors
• Photoelectric Lights
• Interior lighting
• Timers
• Kitchen
Removing the Opportunity
DOORS
• Solid Core doors
• 1 1/2 inch deadbolts
• Front Door
• Back Door
• Access from Garage
• Secure sliding glass doors with a broomstick or
dowel in the track
Removing the “Window” of
Opportunity
WINDOWS
• Use additional security on ground level
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windows
LOCK them
Use dowel rods, pins, or deadbolts (Cautions)
Keep trees and bushes trimmed back
Secure air conditioners with window brackets
and screws
Removing the Opportunity
HOUSE NUMBERS
• At Least 5 inches High
• Keep them Illuminated all Night
• Display where they are most visible
• Mailbox
• Garage door
• Front Door
Thank you!
Stay Safe!