Preventing Crime Through Knowledge

When you look at the crime statistics in the US, it can be very worrying. For example, when you look at the stats, below you can see exactly how critical security is to our safety.

Year Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault Burglary
2000 15,586 90,178 408,016 911,706 2,050,992
2001 16,037 90,863 423,557 909,706 2,116,531
2002 16,229 95,235 420,806 891,407 2,151,252
2003 16,528 93,883 414,235 859,030 2,154,834
2004 16,148 95,089 401,470 847,381 2,144,446
2005 16,740 94,347 417,438 862,220 2,155,448
2006 17,030 92,757 447,403 860,853 2,183,746
2007 16,929 90,427 445,125 855,856 2,176,140
From http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

• If we just concentrate on the burglaries, as they’re the highest, that’s an average of one burglary every fifteen seconds.

• Approximately 80% of those burglaries are carried out by opportunists. They look for easy pickings; an open door or window, maybe left open momentarily why you pop out to the nearby shop or just go next door.

• At least 20% of burglars don’t even have to force their way because of the above reasons.

• More than half of all burglaries take place through a rear entrance where they can’t be seen by the public.

• The majority of burglaries take place during the day as the occupants are less likely to be at home.

Although this information could be seen to be scaremongering and worrying, it is in fact, an advantage to have this information.

You see, when you know the facts, and you know how something happens, it’s easier to deal with it before it happens.

When you know what needs to be done, you can concentrate on those things rather than waste time and money on every possible ‘eventualities’ – something which may never happen.

When you look at the figures above, you can see the majority of burglars are opportunists.

How do you stop them?

Don’t give them the opportunity.

If you happen to leave your home, even for a moment, make sure you lock the door and any windows.

Put valuables where they are not in plain sight, thus taking away the motivation for the opportunist burglar to strike – remove all opportunities the thief may use to target you. You could make use of diversion safes to fool the potential burglar.

As more than half of burglaries occur through a rear entrance, take steps to ensure they can’t get around to the back, or ensure the back entrance is secure by making use of motion detector alarms, CCTV cameras, or even dummy cameras.

Make sure to secure your property as much as possible, possibly with a good quality burglar alarm, thus preventing the burglar entering your property during the day.

You see, when you know the negative possibilities, it’s easier to ensure they don’t happen by taking preventative measures.

So, if you look at the possible ways to reduce burglaries, you can see they’re quite easily do-able and take a little knowledge to ensure such a thing does not happen.

You need to ensure doors and windows are closed, and all valuables are out of view, maybe with the use of diversion safes to fool the potential thief.

You need to make sure the thief does not get in through the back and, even if they can get there, they can’t get in. This can be done by literally scaring into staying away by the use of CCTV cameras, motion detector alarms or, if cash is a little scarce, a dummy camera.

And, last but not least, secure your home during the day, maybe with a good quality alarm and/or good locks.