The document provides tips to secure a home, including installing solid exterior doors equipped with deadbolts and window locks, having visible house numbers, adequate lighting, trimming trees and bushes, displaying neighborhood watch signs, securing the garage and its window, using a storage shed with a lock, securing sliding glass doors with dowels or screws, using fencing for visibility and security, lighting the back of the house, securing back bedroom windows, the crawl space, skylights, and the basement walk-in door. Burglars often enter through the back bedroom window or basement. Residents should follow the 21 steps and call 911 if a burglar is detected.

1. Cottonwood Heights Police Department NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH #2

2. How to secure your home.

3. STEPS 1-12 Solid core and steal plated exterior doors 1 ¾” to 2” thick equipped with solid locking door knobs and deadbolts with a 1” throw. Window locks. Visible house numbers. Adequate street lighting. Front porch lighting on all night or motion detectors. Trim all trees 6’ up from ground level. 7. Display neighborhood watch window stickers. 8. Install 180 degree wide angle viewers in exterior doors. 9. Secure the garage door at all times, even if the house is occupied. 10. Secure the garage window. 11. Secure the garage door at all times, even if the house is occupied. 12. Secure the garage window.

4. FRONT OF HOUSE

5. SOLID CORE DOOR All exterior doors should be solid core or steel plated. Door should be at least 1 ¾” to 2” thick. Dead bolt with 1” throw. Replace the screws on the latch plate. Use longer screws that will go into the wall studs.

6. WINDOW LOCKS Purchase window locks at any hardware store. Be sure to secure the windows in kids rooms. Make sure that the kids can unlatch the window locks in an emergency.

7. VISIBLE HOUSE NUMBERS House numbers should be 4-6” in height. Numbers should also be in a CONTRASTING color to the house.

8. ADEQUATE STREET LIGHTING

9. PORCH LIGHTING Leave front porch lights on all night. Bandits don’t like light! Use a Motion Detector Bandits don’t like surprises

10. CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CPTED Plan & plant wisely. Keep trees and bushes trimmed up so that you are not providing a hiding place for would-be thieves.

11. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH STICKER Once you have completed your two Neighborhood Watch training meetings place your Neighborhood Watch sticker in a visible location. Give window stickers to those in your neighborhood that are activity involved in the program.

12. MAIL AND MAIL BOXES What does the flag in the up position tell, not only the mail carrier but, the “would-be” thief? Does your neighborhood have a community mailbox. Is it locked and secure? If you do not have a community mailbox please take all out-going mail (bills) to a secure post office mailbox. Collect mail as quickly a possible. Have new check orders mailed to your financial institution.

13. ALARM SYSTEMS Alarm systems are recommended where possible. Know how to use your alarm system to prevent false alarms and fines.

14. HOW SOME BURGLARS WORK Do not open the door unless you know who’s there!

15. WIDE ANGLE VIEWERS Install 180 degree wide angle viewers into all exterior doors. Remind children to NEVER open the door to strangers.

16. GARAGE DOORS AND WINDOWS Always close your garage doors. Never leave keys in vehicles even while they are parked in the garage. Many valuable things are keep in the garage. An open garage door is an open invitation to would be thieves. Treat the door from the garage to house as an exterior door. Make sure that you have secured the widows in the garage as you would any other window.

17. STEPS 13-21 Sturdy storage shed with sturdy door and lock. Secure sliding glass doors. Fencing to provide security and visibility. Dog or appearance of dog. Light the back of the house with all night porch lights or motions detectors. 18. Back bedroom window in the second most often mode of entry. 19. Crawl space. 20. Skylights. 21. Basement walk-in door.

18. BACK OF THE HOUSE

19. SHEDS Make sure you have a sturdy storage shed with a sturdy door and lock. We usually keep expensive tools in our sheds.

20. SLIDING GLASS DOORS These doors are often found in the kitchen and can be secured with a wooden dowel in the lower track. You can also slide the door open and place screws in the upper part of the track leaving enough space so that when you close the door it misses the head of the screws. This prevents the door from being lifted up and out. If you need to remove the door, simply open the door and remove screws.

21. FENCING Fences should provide security but allow visibility. If your fence provides complete privacy for you, it does that for a burglar too.

22. DOG OR APPERANCE OF DOG Dogs do their part in preventing crime. The mere appearance of a dog is a deterrent. Place large dog dishes and signs on your property If you do have a dog, make sure it is properly licensed. To learn more, call 801-944-7000

23. BACK PORCH Light the back of the house with all night porch lights or motion detectors.

24. BACK BEDROOM WINDOW Back bedroom window is the second most often mode of entry. The windows that are in the back of the house are often times kids bedroom windows. Secure with window locks.

25. CRAWL SPACE Make sure that if you have an older home that you secure the crawl space door as you would any exterior door.

26. SKYLIGHT Make sure that you do not leave ladders next to the house. This could provide access to skylights and upper level windows.

27. BASEMENT WALK-IN DOOR Secure the basement walk-in door/doors. Remember all EXTERIOR doors should be of solid core construction and secured with deadbolt locks.

28. WHAT ELSE CAN I USE TO PROTECT MY HOME AND FAMILY Alarm Systems Security Closets Safes Hiding Places Safety Deposit Boxes

29. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? You are asleep in your bedroom and are awakened by a burglar in your bedroom? Follow your intuition. Sometimes pretending to remain asleep is the answer. A burglar has broken into another part of your house and is not aware of your presence. Keep your cell phone near your bed and call 911 quickly and quietly. Get out if you can.

30. WHAT EVER YOU DO

31. PROTECT YOUR DWELLING BY FOLLOWING THESE 21 STEPS Solid core and steel plated exterior doors 1- ¾ to 2” thick equipped with solid locking door knobs and deadbolts with a 1” throw. Window locks. Visible house numbers. Adequate street lighting. Front porch lighting on all night or motion detectors. Trim all shrubs below window sill level. Trim all trees 6’ up from ground level. Display Neighborhood Watch window sticker. Collect mail as soon as possible. Alarm systems are recommended where possible. Install 180 degree wide angle viewers in exterior doors. 11. Secure the garage door at all times, even if the house is occupied. 12. Secure the garage window. 13. Sturdy storage shed with sturdy door and lock. 14. Secure sliding glass doors. 15. Fencing to provide security and visibility. 16. Dog or appearance of dog. 17. Light the back of the house with all night porch lights or motion detectors. 18. Back bedroom window is the second most often mode of entry. 19. Crawl space. 20. Skylights. 21. Basement walk-in door.