14 - Friday, November 24, 1989 -

North Shore News

KEEP YOUR HOME SECURE

Viinimize break-ins

THERE ARE a lot of things
homeowners can do to minimize
break-ins and keep their homes
safe from intruders.

“‘Most break and entries,’’ says
Andy Gyorffy, vice-president of
marketing for a _major alarm
systems company, “occur through
basement windows cr patio doors.
Installing bars to basement win-
dows and good locks on doors is a
good first step.

“So is making sure that there
aren’t too many shrubs or bushes
close to windows or other possible
points of entry. This makes it easi-
er to spot prowlers."”

Lighting is also important.

And if you’re not home for a
few days or even for an evening,
he adds, ask a neighbor to Icok
out the window from time to
time to make sure things are ail
right.

‘“‘Neighborhood Watch is
another great idea — and a very
effective deterrent to criminals.
The problem is that your neighbors
can’t see in the dark and won’t be
watching 24 hours a day — and
likely won’t be at those times when
most break-ins occur.”’

Beware also, says Gyorffy, of
being lulled into a false sense of
security because of these things.

“A lot of criminals come

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disguised as someone who has a
right to be at your home — the TV
repairman who drives up to your
door and walks away with your
TV, stereo or VCR ... or the mov-
ing van that ‘moves’ you while the
family is at work or on holidays.”’

No one really thinks twice about
seeing two or three men in
coveralls who appear to be check-
ing your eavestroughs or windows.
As far as your neighbors are con-
cerned, it’s just someone who is
doing repairs on your home.

“So right there, under the nase
of your neighbors — even with a
Neighborhood Watch program in
effect — your home is being robb-
ed.”’

The average break-in takes six to
eight seconds — even with a good
lock. It’s as simple as putting a car
jack between the door frame and
giving it a good crank or inserting
a screwdriver or small crowbar be-
tween the door and door jam and
giving it a push. Both will do the
trick.

“Locks,” adds Gyorffy, ‘‘are
for honest people.”*

Window bars also offer a false
sense of security. They are usually

| ARE YOU PROTECTED? |

installed by people whose homes
have been broken into through a
basement window.

‘“‘The sad part of it is that the
person who installed those bars is
thinking that if the intruders come
back, they'll be stopped by the
bars. Not so. If the intruder does
return, he will simply take the path
of least resistance and enter by one
of the main floor windows.

‘*And no matter how good your
window locks are, never forget the
fact that glass is not difficult to
break.”’

About 30 per cent of all break-
ins, he notes, are through doors
and the balance, either through a
basement or main floor window.
Once in a while the entry will be
made through an upstairs window
— but that’s rare in residential
break-ins.

“This is why a home security
system is needed to ensure that
your home — and the people in it
— are safe.”

Even then, he notes, be sure that
the system you choose meets your

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Page 15

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