How to safeguard your home from break and enters this holiday season

Posted On Thursday December 19, 2019

Here we are a week away from Christmas with many of us in the midst of shopping for gifts for our family and friends. Those gifts are most likely under our tree awaiting wrapping paper. While our reason for giving is priceless, the gifts we purchase have a monetary value, criminals are willing to commit a break and enter for.

As per the Ontario Provincial Police website:

Break and enters continue to remain an all-too common occurrence in Canada, with more than 150,000 reported to police annually of which six in 10 are residential. Another 30% are businesses and 10% are other locations such as a school, shed or detached garage.

Research indicates the decision to commit a crime is tied to the perceived risk of being caught and that a high frequency of re-victimization occurs during the 12 months following an initial break-in.

The OPP through a public awareness and education initiative called SafeGuard Ontario has specially trained officers available to conduct property security reviews for homeowners and small businesses.

It is definitely worth investigating!

In the meantime, here are a few tips off the Ontario Government site to help keep your home safe and less of a target for criminals.

Landscaping - Thieves look for trees and shrubs that hide windows and doors. Trim or remove excessive landscaping and make sure at least one neighbour can see your home.

Lighting - Installing motion-activated lights may act as a deterrent and let would-be thieves know you are security conscious.

Property Maintenance - Will you be away from home for the holidays? Telltale signs include piles of flyers left out, a snow filled driveway, or blinds drawn during the day. All of which makes a criminal’s job of selecting your home as a target much easier. Tell a neighbour when you will be away and ask them to park one of their cars in your driveway.

Doors and Locks

  • Good solid doors are an important first step in protecting your home.
  • For sliding glass doors, remember to place a hockey stick or piece of wood in the tracks. This will help prevent the door from sliding open.
  • Make sure the deadbolt locks to all doors with access from outside are:
    • Pick-resistant
    • Drill-resistant
    • Saw-resistant
    • Twist-resistant, with tapered hardened steel
    • A minimum of 2.5 cm(1 inch) long when thrown

Windows

  • To prevent a window from being opened side-to-side or lifted up and out cut a piece of wood to fit between the outer window frame and edge of the sliding portion of the window.
  • Add a second lock or install a metal pin through both sides of a double hung window. Security pins designed for this purpose can be purchased at hardware stores.

Valuables - Make a list of sentimental items. When not in use it is best to store them in a safety deposit box or permanent safe in your home.

Let's keep our homes off a thief’s target list this holiday season.

For more information, take the Home Security Challenge or contact the OPP’s Community Safety Services and have a safe and happy holiday!