Lock Your Doors


Kathleen Bresnehan, Safety Chair TLNA

Spring is here and summer's around the corner! Vacations, long weekends, days at the beach, bicycling, and just plain enjoying Wisconsin's fabulous summers are on their way. Coupled with the joys of summer is an increase in residential burglaries. Opportunities start with unlocked doors.

LOCK YOUR DOORS! Burglars depend on getting in and out quickly and without causing suspicion. Even if a neighbor notices a stranger coming into the house through an unlocked door, chances are the neighbor will assume the visitor is a guest.
Door Locks Most homes are built with economy in mind and often when doors and door locks are replaced, economy remains the first priority. Locks are only as good as the doors they are fastened to. Solid core or wood-staved doors at least 1 3/4" thick should be installed. More than 1/8" clearance between a door and its frame allows easy access for tools to spread the door frame. Primary entrance doors with windows should have the glass replaced with lexan, a virtually unbreakable substitute that offers a fairly clear view. Door hinges should ALWAYS be located on the INSIDE, so hinge pins cannot be taken out and the door removed. Make sure deadbolt locks are installed on all doors. Inexpensive key-in-knob locks are not secure. They can be opened with a credit card, screw driver or a butter knife.

Make sure a lock has the following:
· A bolt or throw extending at least one inch from the edge of the door.
· Connecting screws holding the lock together inside the door.
· A lock cylinder with a tapered steel guard.
· A strike plate anchored to the door frame with 3" screws.
· A reinforcing sleeve can be added to the door to increase the quality of the lock.

Sliding Patio Doors


The easiest point of entry into any home are sliding patio doors. Use these simple, inexpensive methods to secure these doors and windows:
· Reduce vertical clearance between the door and the track.
· Get an anti-slide bolt.
· Install a charlie bar.
· Purchase keyed locking devices.

Windows


Although there are special key locks for double hung windows, they can be a safety problem in case of an emergency. Use window pins instead. This is done by drilling an angled hole through the top frame of the upper window. Then insert eye bolts or nails into the holes. A second set of holes can be drilled into the upper window frame for ventilation at a safe height. The Police Department recommends no more than four inches.
Basement Windows
About a year ago, I woke to the sound of breaking glass. It took me a second to figure out where the sound was coming from. I opened the basement door to find a person reaching through the broken window to undo the lock from the inside. Another person just outside the window was talking to the burglar and trying to calm our family dog that was also in the basement. Fortunately, I (as frightened as I was) yelled at the pair and scared them away. The next day we installed flat steel bars anchored to the window frame with long screws.

Garages


An average garage contains hundreds of dollars of expensive machinery such as lawn mowers, power tools, snow blowers, bicycles, and a car. The same security precautions recommended for household doors and windows apply here. If garage windows are not for ventilation, consider permanently securing them. Garage doors should always be locked. Tips on securing garage doors can be obtained from the Madison Police Department or the Neighborhood Watch Block Captain.
Neighborhood Watch Participation Levels

I haven't received any calls for information on Neighborhood Watch, although most homes in the neighborhood take part. Before the weather warms up, I recommend EVERYONE participate in Operation I.D. and Neighborhood Watch. Let's have a safe and uneventful summer!

For more information, contact Kathi Bresnehan at 251-7399.

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