Our Great City

Residential burglary! Just the thought of this word can make a person's stomach uneasy. The thought of your home being broken into while you are away and your valuables being handled by a burglar can make anyone uneasy. Sentimental items being taken, along with electronics, money, check books, credit and/or debit cards, jewelry and much more is very painful.

Can you imagine the angst you will go through when you see your back door or front door kicked in. Neighbors will try to help you out anyway they can and the police will investigate all possible leads, but this can take time. Now, stop and think a minute. Was there anything I could have done to prevent this? Did I make my home more inviting to the criminal? Did I harden the target (my home) and still was victimized? If not, what could I have done? I don't want this to happen again.

Hardening your home and making it less inviting is what you have to do. Have you replaced the 1" screws with 3" screws that secure the strikeplate of your deadbolt locks? This does not take much time and will reinforce the strength of the lock. Take a look at the photos of these doors that have been kicked-in to gain entry into a home.

The bolts in the dead-bolt locks will hold up. The problem lies in the metal piece the bolt fits into. This is called a strike plate. Standard dead bolt locks will not have a reinforced strike plate and result in the damage you see. Metal doors can hold up for a while, but will give at the strike plate if the screws securing it are 1" or less. With 3" screws securing the strikeplate the bolt has better bite and the joist will take longer to break. Instead of one kick it might take 4-6 kicks or maybe more. We certainly hope this will attract attention.

Do you have an active crimewatch program? People being on the alert and calling in suspicious vehicles and persons if seen in your neighborhood. How is your landscaping? Are your shrubs trimmed away from your home and cut low as to not invite a burglar to check out your home? Shrubbery can hide the criminal if kept tall, shaggy and large. Is your backyard secured with fencing and if so is the gate or gates locked? Many gates in neighborhoods are not locked! A keyed lock or combination lock can make it tougher on the criminal. They are either going to have to jump the fence or cut the lock. They like it nice and simple and would rather walk through.

Do you have an alarm system? If so, is it activated when you leave. Many people have them and never activate them. Having the alarm system monitored will ensure police response. If a door is kicked in the alarm will sound provided it is in working order and in most cases the burglars will decide against making entry.

Keller police would take great pride in telling you residential burglaries were down December 2009 compared to December 2008. The fact is residential burglaries were higher in 2009. It is a crime Keller police would like to see stop. By educating you about crime prevention and making your home a less desirable target for the burglar, we believe the residential burglary crime rate will go down.

If you would like an assesment done on your home and how to make improvements without draining your wallet, contact me. Thank you for hardening the target and making crime prevention a priority in your home. Stay safe and secure!

Officer Scott Bradburn, Community Relations

Keller Police Department

Phone: 817-743-4533

E-mail: sbradburn@kellerpd.com