The Basics:

• Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
• Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed. Even if it is for a short time, lock your doors.
• Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
• Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
• Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
• Push button locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
• Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
• Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.
• Engrave valuable property with your phone number in case it is stolen.
• Have good-quality photographs of valuable jewelry, art, and collectibles.
• Keep a list of serial numbers for electronic items.

Don’t Tempt a Thief:

• Lawn mowers, barbecues and bicycles are best stored out of sight.
• Always lock your garden sheds and garages.
• Use curtains on garage and basement windows.
• Never leave notes on your door such as “Gone shopping.”

Locks — Get the Best:

• No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in dead bolt locks provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation.
• Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
• When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.

Targeting the Outside:

• Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for front and back yards.
• Use landscaping to provide maximum visibility to and from the house.
• Route visitors by means of fences, walkways, and shrubs.
• Plant thorny bushes around windows to make illegal entry more difficult; do not block fire escapes.
• Cut back large tree limbs that may allow burglars to climb into upstairs windows.
• Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
• Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.
• Install bells on your exterior gates
• Install “Beware of Dog” signs (dog or not)

Windows:

• Most windows can be pinned for security.
• Drill a 3/16″ hole on a slight downward slant through the inside window frame and halfway into the outside frame – place a nail in the hole to secure the window.

Alarms:

• An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to homeowners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market. Make several inquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.
• Install an alarm system that best fits your needs, but consider these features: interior motion sensors, door and window sensors, a backup battery in the event power to the house is shut off and a system independent of your home phone line. If you choose to install an alarm at your home or business, you will need to register that alarm with the Police Department and obtain an alarm permit to operate it.
• For a more affordable option, put alarm system signs in your yard and alarm system stickers on your windows. Burglars won’t know if you actually have an alarm or not.

If Your Home Is Broken Into/Unexplained open or broken window or door:

• Do not enter – the perpetrator may still be inside.
• Use a neighbor’s phone to call police.
• Do not touch anything or clean up until the police have inspected for evidence.
• Write down the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles.
• Note the descriptions of any suspicious persons.

Other Precautions You Should Take:

• Never leave keys under doormats, flowerpots, mailboxes or other “secret” hiding places — burglars know where to look for hidden keys.
• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions, including a description of the items, date of purchase and original value, and serial numbers, and keep a copy in a safe place away from home — this is a good precaution in case of fires or other disasters. Make a photographic or video record of valuable objects, heirlooms and antiques. Your insurance company can provide assistance in making and keeping your inventory.
• Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 911 immediately. Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number with an engraver. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.
• Form a Neighborhood Watch Group. This can help you work with your neighbors to improve security and reduce risk of burglary.

The MOST important thing YOU can do is CALL THE POLICE to report a CRIME or any SUSPICIOUS activity. You have to be the eyes of your neighborhood. And remember you can always remain a pair of anonymous eyes!

Emergency: 911
Non-emergency Police and Fire: 408-730-7100

Be sure to call the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (SDPS) and schedule your free Home Security Survey (408-730-7116).