Our home and our possessions represent lifetime financial and emotional investments. Most people spend more time at their residence than they do at the workplace or any other location. Most crimes that take place within the residence or on the grounds, involve burglary or theft. For this reason, the following focuses on the prevention of these crimes. However, the burglary and theft prevention efforts, if successful, serve to prevent many other types of crime at the residence, such as vandalism and violent crime.

Pattern of residential crime
42% of all household burglaries occur without forced entry.
Residential crimes are like all other crimes; they are the result of desire and opportunity.

Extent
Burglary and theft, two of the most frequently occurring crimes, comprise in excess of one third of all the crimes in most communities. According to the FBI - 3 million burglaries and 6.5 million thefts are annually reported to the police.

Peak Times
In general, burglary is at its highest rate during the summer months. July is often identified as the peak month. Forcible entry is most likely to occur during July and December, while unlawful entry without force is highest in July and August.

Who is vulnerable to residential crime?
Everyone...Every Home...Every Apartment
A study showed that there are some that are more vulnerable then others.

1. Residences that showed some outward signs of deterioration and need of repair.
2. Residences that were located on corner lots.
3. Residences that were blocked from view of neighbors by trees and shrubbery.
4. Residences that were on a lot where a wooded area was located behind them.
5. Residences that were located in areas without bright street lights.
6. Residences that were in areas with sporadic road traffic.

Most offenders of residential crimes are young. In 1986; 12.5% of burglary arrests were persons below the age of 15. The 15 to 19 year old group made up 37.3% of the burglary arrests, followed by 21.4% of persons 20 to 24 and 13.4% for those 25 to 29. Only 15.4% of burglary arrests were for persons 30 years and older.

Methods of entry
Most burglars enter the residents through a door, many of them being unlocked. The second choice is through a convenient window, primarily at ground level. Many times the burglar gains entrance by finding the hidden key. Four types of attacks characterize the perpetrator's method of entry.

1. Brute force: pure physical force-pushing, kicking, the use of sledge hammers, axes, saws, ect.
2. Unskilled attack: an attack in which a novice tries a specific attack on, for example, the lock. Small available tools that are useable by anyone are normally used.
3. Semiskilled attack: Attacker has limited special knowledge of how to defeat the particular items being evaluated. He has certain crude tools.
4. Professional: Attacker has special tools and skills. The professional, if determined and given enough time, will defeat just about any security device.

The primary and most desirable goal is to deter. Deterrence techniques, concentrating on the exterior of the residence, and designed to convince the burglar that the risk is too high. Examples include exterior lighting, warning signs, neighborhood watch, property identification and alarm signs and window decals, properly trimmed shrubbery, and the presence of a dog.

If the burglar is not deterred then delay becomes the next most important factor. The burglar wants to avoid getting caught, so the longer it takes to force a door or window, the greater the risk. Studies show that a delay of four or five minutes is generally sufficient to prevent entry into a house or apartment. Delaying tactics include door and window locks strong enough to resist forced entry at least for a little while.

If the burglar is neither deterred nor delayed, the next best thing is to deny access to everything of value. This is done by marking household property, keeping inventories, and locking valuable jewels and documents in safes or security boxes.

Finally, detecting the burglar cannot be overlooked as an important means of crime prevention. Detection involves using electronic and biologic (i.e., dogs) alarms and various neighborhood watch programs.

Residential security zones
There is one more dimension that should be considered; that of space and geography. It is important to apply the for basic principles of residential security within the context of geographic zones. Examples; yard size, fences, closeness to roadways, surrounding buildings, hallways and doorway in apartments.

Perimeter and yard security
Securing the perimeter and premises is the first line of defense for the resident against crime. Here is what can be done to deter and detect the burglar:

• Post Warning Signs; Neighborhood watch, alarm systems, etc..
• Erect Fences and Gate; Ideal for businesses and inappropriate for most city and suburban locations.
• Create Border Barriers; The use of landscape timbers, rocks, and stones make it more difficult for vandals to rip up or drive over lawns or flower beds.
• Put in Landscaping; Properly trimmed bushes increase visibility. Trees and bushes along the property lines serve as border barriers.
• Install Exterior Lighting; Lighting is one of the most effective deterrents of criminal activity because it increases the chances of the perpetrator being observed, thus decreasing the probability of attack. Doorways both front and back should be well-lit. Technology has developed tamper proof lighting fixtures as well as pre-set volume sensors.
• Doors, Windows, and Alarms; Windows, doors, and alarms are meant to delay and detect the criminal, although locks and alarms also help deter and deny.
• Door Design; All exterior doors should be solid and substantial. Three types of doors are in common use.

1. Flush wood doors: either solid core or hollow core. Solid core doors provide good strength. Hollow core doors are easy to penetrate.
2. Wood panel or rail and stile doors: Both may be considered a security risk.
3. Metal doors: these are superior in security terms to any wooden door but offer less insulation and are considered somewhat unattractive. But such doors do offer great protection.

• The Frame; Most wooden door frames are flimsy. Door molding is nailed around the frame and held in place with small finishing nails. The remedy is to remove the casing surrounding the door and insert wood or metal filler pieces between the door frame and the studs on both sides of the door.
• Hinges; Hinges have pins that can be removed. Hinges can be replaced by "fixed-pin" hinges that have no pin at all.
• Door Locks; Because many criminals enter though unlocked doors, the first precaution is to begin locking doors. There are three commonly used door locks.

1. The Cylindrical or Key-in-Knob lock; These locks do not offer much in the way of security. Any novice burglar with a screw driver or vice grip can gain entry.
2. The Mortise Lock; The mortise lock sets in a rectangular cut on the outer edge of the door. It has a spring latch which can be locked by depressing buttons on the edge of the door. It has bolts and latches that extend more than 1-1/2 inches into the frame. It provides better protection than the key-in-knob types but the bolt can still be jimmied.
3. Dead bolt Locks; Security experts recommend these types of lock, both single and double cylinder.

• Strike Plates; No matter how strong the door and the door lock, an insecure strike plate can leave the residence vulnerable to crime. The strike plate is the metal plate installed in the door jam.
• Optical Viewers; If the entry door has no window, an excellent security measure is the one-way peephole or door viewer.
• Doors on Garages and Other Out-Buildings; The garage or tool shed door should always be closed and locked, and the entrance door from the garage into the house should be treated as an exterior door.
• Windows; Locks for windows and sliding glass doors present special problems. Aluminum and glass sliding patio doors are notorious security nightmares. The use of locking devices made for glass doors is recommended. Also a piece of wood can be inserted on the bottom of the door along the runners. Windows will always be a security risk.
  Double hung windows, casement windows, sliding windows, and louvered windows all have good qualities but they also have their own security problem. Study them all and pick the best type window for your home and for your situation.
  
• Types of Glass; There is burglar proof glass, break-resistant glass, bullet proof glass, etc. The cost for residential use would be staggering. Tempered glass can also be installed. It is more resistant to shattering. For basement windows the answer is glass block.
  The one consolation of windows is that a burglar does not want to break a window to gain entry due to the noise factor. It takes time to muffle the noise.
  
• Alarms: Burglar alarms work on the principle that noise is an effective deterrent. Their major purpose is to warn the resident as well as others of an illegal entry. There are many types of alarm systems on the market. Choose the system that is best for your situation.
• Biological Alarms; Dogs are the most widely used alarm system. A dog is naturally protective and most will not only detect the intruder but also deter, delay, and possibly deny him.
• Property Identification; Property identification not only deters crime, it also works even if the property is stolen.
• Create signs of life; If you are going on vacation or just out for a while to create signs that you or someone is still at the residence consider installing an automatic timer device, also you might consider hiring a house sitter.