PROTECTING YOUR HOME
1. LOCK YOUR DOORS!!!!! It is truly amazing (and disturbing) how many residents do not lock the doors and windows of their homes and automobiles. Burglars love unlocked doors. Please don’t invite a burglar into your house or auto by leaving the doors unlocked.
2. Lock Your Doors - Part 2. Don’t forget to also lock the door leading from your garage into the main portion of your house. Your automatic garage door opener is NOT a good form of security.
3. Protect sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a long piece of wood in the tracks. Install spacers between the top of each door and the frame to prevent the door from being lifted off it’s track. The police department can show you how; see Tip #9 below.
4. Use timers on lights, radios and television sets to make your home appear occupied even if you’re away.
5. Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Ask a relative or trusted neighbor to collect your mail, newspapers, and other deliveries. Also, a car parked in a driveway (again, ask a neighbor) is an excellent way to make your home appear occupied.
6. Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
7. Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Floodlights that illuminate potential break-in points (doors and windows), as well as low voltage outdoor lighting, are effective ways of discouraging burglars.
8. Never leave a message on your answering machine telling callers that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
9. Call the Ridley Park Police Department to arrange for a free security survey of your premises. We will evaluate the state of your home’s security and make recommendations for improvements. Call 610-362-7401 to arrange for an officer to visit your home.
Going on Vacation, please fill out the Vacation House Check, and an officer will check your property during your vacation.