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Crime in the Area

There have been a number of Property crimes in the area and the New Westminster Police Department is asking anyone who was the victim of a break-and-enter, to make a police report to determine if any of the recovered stolen property is theirs. If victims of these break-and-enters do not have serial numbers on file, any photographs of the stolen items are asked to be passed along to the investigating officer. For information on how to best secure your property please reach out to our Crime Prevention Coordinator for more information at 604-529-2528 or crimefree@nwpolice.org

To view a local crime map or sign up for incident updates go to: cityprotect.com

Crime Prevention Tips

Have an alarm system installed

Lock all doors and windows before leaving the house. Even the window on your second floor!

If you’re away for the weekend, avoid posting photos/videos or statuses, until you’re back. Also, try to have a neighbour or family member keep a lookout or drop by a few times while you’re away.

If you have a safe, make sure it is bolted in to a wall and not easily removable.

Avoid leaving your garage door opener in sight, if it’s in your car. Thieves will often break in to cars, steal the garage door opener and find their way back to the home by snooping through your insurance papers – for your address! This is another reason to always lock your car and glove compartment.

If you plan on being out during darker hours, make sure the exterior of your home is well lit. Sensor lights are an energy efficient and effective way to light up small pathways.

Look at your yard and neighbourhood areas from a burglar’s point of view. Trim trees and bushes that could hide them. Pay particular attention to trees growing near your house. Could a burglar climb a tree to get onto the roof and enter through an unlocked upper story window?

Also, make sure that emergency personnel can easily see your address from the street, even at night.

Outside doors and frames should be made of solid wood or steel, which are harder to force open than hollow-core doors. Frames in outside doors should fit snugly (within 1/4 inch) against the door, and any glass around an outside door should be at least 40 inches from the lock or be unbreakable. To keep the door from being lifted off its track, limit clearance by installing screws or a plate that protrude down from the top track.

For added security you can also consider a floor mounted door stop. This is much more effective than a door chain, which is easily compromised with a good push.

Hinges should be attached securely by screws that go through the door frame into the supporting stud, and are not exposed on the outside. Replace outside hinges with non-removable hinges that are available commercially.

To observe visitors, a wide angle viewer should be used instead of a chain lock, as they do not require you to open the door. Change your locks if keys are lost or when you move into a new residence.

Garages

Garages are a favourite target because they often have other valuables, such as power tools and bicycles in them.

Secure garages windows with bars or plexiglass.
The door between your house and attached garage should swing inward, be solid core and have a deadbolt lock.
Keep your garage locked, even when you are at home.
If the overhead garage door is roller and track operated, install a lock in the track to block the roller and disconnect your automatic garage door opener before you go on vacation.
Secure your other garage doors with deadbolts.
Install lights near your garage to keep the area lit. Also, leave your headlights on until you park in the garage.
Consider having a remote control garage door opener installed, to allow you to stay in your car until you’re inside and the door is secured, and be sure the overhead door closes completely after you drive into or out of your garage.

Locks

Door security locks with key holes in the knob are unreliable, as they can easily be forced. Deadbolts should be used instead on all exterior doors, as the bolt can not be slipped with a card or tool, but can only be disengaged with a key. The minimum length of the throw should be 1 in. or 2.5 cm, and the surrounding collar of the deadbolt should be made of good quality material or have a freely rotating slip ring so that it can not be crushed or twisted. A strike plate, which is the flat metal plate on the door frame that receives the locks throw or bolt, should be 6-8 in. or preferably longer and installed with long screws that pass through the door frame and into the wall stud. Deadbolts provide good to excellent security depending on the quality.

Another type of bolt that can be used is the bolt rim lock, which has two vertically moving deadbolts that lock into a frame mounted striker above and below the door. These locks are suitable for wooden frames or where there are windows on the sides of the door preventing proper installation of a deadbolt. These locks provide good to excellent security, depending on the quality, and are more resistant to crowbars.

A system that is often found in older homes is the rim deadbolt lock. These are the simple sliding locks that are surface mounted on the interior of the door, and are easy to install but are poor security if simple screws are used. This type of lock should be updated with for better security.

Two more modern types of locks are the push button rim-locks and digitally coded deadbolts. A push button rim-lock features a keyless lock, opened by entering the correct combination on the numbered entry pad. This type of lock is popular in commercial applications but can be used in a residential setting as well. Keep in mind that the security code should be changed regularly so the number pad does not wear out from overuse. Digitally coded deadbolt systems with keypad or electronic remote are more expensive, but can be fitted to existing openings. They operate in the same manner as the traditional deadbolt system, but the locking mechanism can be activated without keys using an electronic remote. These systems can be of great benefit to seniors or people with disabilities.

To further add to the already increased security offered by a good quality deadbolt lock, the addition of a steel reinforcement device to both the door and frame greatly increases strength. Such a system is cost effective and simple to install.

Windows

Windows are generally a weak link when it comes to residential security. They can be pried open or broken, lifted from their tracks and the panes removed. There are numerous ways to increase the security to windows, all you have to do is conduct a simple survey of the existing windows by asking yourself the following questions:

What are the weak points?
What is the access from the ground, porch, roof, tree, fire escape, ledge?
Is the glass shatter resistant?
What is the state of repair of the sash and frame?
Are the locking mechanisms functional and are they engaged?
Is the surrounding area well lit at night?

Here are some methods of adding security to window sets:

Any window that is not to be used as a fire exit can simply be secured by nailing or screwing it permanently closed or adding security bars.
Vertical sliding (double hung) or horizontally sliding windows can be secured with a nail, metal pin or specially designed lock.
Windows with keyless latches, such as casement and awning windows can be secured by simply replacing the keyless latch with a keyed latch or keyed slide bolt. An alternative to fixing a keyless latch is to simply drill a hole through the latch and inserting a removable pin.
Sashless or semi-sashed windows can be blocked closed with a piece of wood fit snugly into the bottom track to prevent sliding and a small screw drilled into the top track to prevent it from being lifted.
Fixed picture windows, vision panels (including small paned) and skylights are not designed to be opened, providing good security. Most thieves have no interest in breaking these windows as they take time and cause too much noise.
Basement windows can be secured by using grillwork, guards and bar mechanisms, which can be installed with one way screws, pins or padlocks. Ensure that at least one window can be opened for possible escape and that all basement windows in bedroom areas are operable for safety reasons. Another method of adding security to the glazing (glass area) of a window is to apply a shatter resistant film which strengthens the glass area should it be attacked.
Glass areas can also be covered or even replaced with Lucite (high impact acrylic sheeting) which can survive attack without being broken unless very extreme force is used which will usually take too much time and cause too much noise.

Other Tips

If you have recently purchased a television, stereo or other household item, do not throw the empty boxes in the alley garbage.
Never hide keys outside, whether in a bush or in a flower pot. Burglars know where to find “secret” hiding places. Its much better to leave a key with a trusted neighbour.
When you are in the backyard, lock the front door and vice versa.
When inside, it is a good idea to keep your doors locked.
Consider keeping your blinds and / or curtains closed at night because people can see in and you cant see out.
Always lock up ladders and tools. Don’t give a burglar the resources to break into your home.
Window air conditioning units should be bolted to the wall to prevent them from being easily removed from the outside.
When moving to a new home, hire a reliable locksmith to re-key all exterior doors. If possible, have the locksmith make the key to fit all locks.
Keep emergency numbers near your phone for quick access.
Be cautious about providing any information regarding yourself or your neighbours over the phone or in person.
If you can’t put your irreplaceable items in a safe or a safety deposit box, try to remove them from plain view if you are going out. Put them in a closed cupboard or hide them away