Residential Security

• Free Residential Security Surveys
• Neighborhood Watch Program
• Security Alarms
• Residential Security Brochure (.pdf file)

Most burglars allow themselves one to two minutes to get into a home. Beyond that, the risk of detection becomes too great. A good security strategy slows burglars down and pushes them past these time limits.

The fear of crime and its associated victimization causes some people to purchase home security alarms. But, for an alarm system to be truly effective, a homeowner must first address the physical security of their home.

Invest in quality security hardware and ensure it is properly installed. Unfortunately, homeowners cannot always assume a new or expensive home contains quality security hardware.

Several areas of the house should be evaluated for optimal safety including:

• Doors
• Deadbolts
• Patio doors
• Windows
• Lighting

What happened to the House Watch Program?

The Police Department has elected to revise the "House Watch Program" to impact the behaviors of burglars by better educating the public on effective methods for securing their home and neighborhood.

An honest and critical analysis of the house watch program revealed officers were not able to check residences as often as hoped.

Futhermore, research suggest the house watch program offered no real preventive measure to the community. There was the possibility that a burglar could observe an officer leaving after checking a home. An "illusion of occupany" may have been lost or served as no deterrent.

Please use the resources above for improving your home security.