- Another home burglary; residents need to make additional efforts to deter thieves
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
David and Janet Everitt, Nephi, lost between $600 and $700 in a home burglary discovered Easter night.
The Everitt’s had a large empty water dispenser container, the type used in businesses for drinking water, that contained approximately $500 or more in pocket change. That container was taken.
Also stolen from the residence was a $100 bill.
“The family left the home on Friday and returned Sunday evening,” said Mike Morgan, Nephi City Police Chief.
He said the home also had received extensive damage to doors and windows where the burglars had attempted entry but failed. They finally gained entry through a basement window by removing a screen and breaking a window.
The burglary may have taken place the same evening as the burglary at the home of Leonard and Myrna Trauntvein but was not discovered until Sunday when the Everitts returned home. That burglary occurred on Saturday evening.
“Ground floor windows are more susceptible to break-ins for obvious reasons,” Chris E McGoey, CPP, CSP, CAM, said in an article entitled: “Burglary Prevention Advice.”
However, if basement windows are large enough for a burglar to climb inside, they will also be attractive to those trying to gain illegal entrance. Basement windows meeting current fire safety codes are always large enough for a burglar.
Upper floor windows become attractive only if they can be accessed from a stairway, tree, fence, or by climbing on balconies.
Windows have latches, not locks and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside.
“Inexpensive thick wooden dowels and sticks work well for horizontal sliding windows and through-the-frame pins work well for vertical sliding windows,” said McGoey.
In the evening in summer weather for ventilation, block the window open no more than six inches and make sure no one can reach in from the outside and remove the blocking device or reach through and unlock the door.
“In this instance, at the Everitt home,” said Morgan, “the window was broken and the screen was torn out. The Everitts did manage to discourage the burglar but did not stop him.”
He said that if a burglar wants to get in bad enough, he will.
Those who decide to discourage burglars by using sliding blocks or through-the-frame pins, should know that in sleeping rooms, window blocking devices should be capable of being removed easily from the inside to comply with fire codes.
Anti-lift devices are necessary for ground level and accessible aluminum windows that slide horizontally.
“The least expensive and easiest method is to install screws half-way into the upper track of the movable glass panel to prevent it from being lifted out in the closed position,” said McGoey.
He suggested that, as a deterrent, a homeowner could place highly visible decals on the glass door near the latch mechanism that indicates that an alarm system, a dog, or block watch/operation identification system is in place.
Homeowners need to make sure someone cannot reach through an open window and unlock the door or reach inside a window and remove the blocking device.
“An open window, visible from the street or alley, may be the sole reason for your home to be selected by a burglar,” said McGoey.
Interior lighting helps to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darkened home night-after-night sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip.
“Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere,” said McGoey. “They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away. In this way you set up a routine that your neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark.”
If the burglar gains entrance to a home with a timer, they typically unplug it and the home becomes dark.
“Typically, you want to use light-timers near the front and back windows with the curtains closed,” said McGoey. “The pattern of lights turning on and off should simulate actual occupancy. It’s also comforting not to have to enter a dark residence when you return home.”
Another good idea is to use the same light timers to turn on radios or television sets to further enhance the illusion of occupancy.
“Exterior lighting is also very important,” said McGoey. “It becomes critical if you must park in a common area parking lot or underground garage and need to walk to your front door. The purpose of good lighting is to allow you to see if a threat or suspicious person is lurking in your path.”
Exterior lighting needs to bright enough to see 100-feet and to make it possible for an observer to identify colors. Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals because they don’t want to be seen or identified.
Another important area to be well-lighted is the perimeter of your home or apartment especially at the entryway.
“Exterior lighting on the front of a property should always be on a timer to establish a routine and appearance of occupancy at all times,” he said.
The timer or photo-cell may be set to turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn.
“The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day on a single family home is a dead giveaway that you are out of town,” said McGoey.
Security lights with infra-red motion sensors are relatively inexpensive and can easily replace an exterior porch light or side door light on single family homes. The heat-motion sensor can be adjusted to detect body heat and can be programmed to reset after one minute. These security lights are highly recommended for single family homes.
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