Burglary is always a serious issue, but if it does happen, we all hope we are not at home at the time. In a recent rash of burglaries in our area, some of the break-ins occurred in the middle of the night while the homeowners were asleep! Pretty terrifying!
As with many problems, the main pain stems from the recognition that perhaps it could have been prevented. Let’s see what can be done to protect ourselves and minimize any damage. In this article, I will first discuss thwarting a burglar who gets in. Next, I will suggest ways to keep him out in the first place.
Out of Sight, Out of Hand
It is always sad when I hear that a couple got cleaned out in a home invasion. It is even sadder when I hear how easy it was for the crook. So rule number one is: Get the jewelry out of the master bedroom and hide it well. Your sock drawer is not adequate.
The crooks want your jewelry and cash. Your precious sefarim or your favorite Bosch are not going to interest them. The old day of thieves carrying color TVs out the door is dated. They want small items that convert to cash easily and quickly.
You want to hide cash, of course, but you should also hide credit cards and checkbooks. Although you are protected against fraudulent use of checks and credit cards, who needs the headache? (I also think you should not carry more credit cards than you use daily, in case your wallet or purse gets lifted.) Thieves look for high-end electronics, too, as well as the top computer games, iPads, smart phones – and, of course, guns. One more thing: Hanging your car keys on a hook next to the door, with the clicker attached, makes it easy to take your car as well.
Some valuable items need a different approach. Sterling silver has to be fenced at a pawnshop (whose owner might be suspicious of someone selling a menorah when it does not fit his “look”) or even smelted down. Copper piping is often stolen for its metal value. (I know of two people whose air conditioner compressors were stolen from the outside of their unoccupied homes – most likely for the copper but perhaps also for the Freon!)
It is not easy for a homeowner to hide menorahs and candlesticks, but one idea is to engrave an ID number (the drivers license number is best), although I’m not sure how engraving effects value of the item. The Northwest Citizens Patrol lends an engraving device. As for that family heirloom kiddush cup and other sentimental possessions, I would practice putting them in a unusual spot – especially when away for extended periods. Engraving is also a must for bicycles.
The second thing you should do is take out your digital camera and photograph your valuables one by one. This is very important to the police, because they monitor pawn shop purchases and may spot your item. Having a careful photographic record of your valuables is important for insurance claims as well. In addition, write down all serial numbers.
Now let’s talk about laptops. Laptop protection is really important, because they are often left in cars and can be stolen at airports, etc., as well as from the home. I am not sure what crooks can sell used laptops for, but losing one can be a pretty big disaster for you – and not just financially.
Rule number one for laptop protection is to make sure your data is backed up. Talk to a tech person regarding easy ways to do this. Years of work and records can be backed up onto a flash drive in minutes. If you are afraid you will forget to do these, there are automatic online backup systems for a fee. Their advantage is that you can retrieve your data from anywhere at any time, not just in case of theft but also if your computer crashes or you lose electricity in a storm.
A computer should be password protected – with multiple passwords. There are also encryption options for the more sophisticated. Then, even if someone steals your laptop, they cannot access the data stored on it. Again, talk to a technical person. Laptops can even be chained! – which might thwart a crook in a hurry.
Cameras are popular with burglars. A small pocket point-and-shoot camera can be hidden. Get into the habit of putting it away in a well-concealed but easy-to-access location. A good spot is behind books on a shelf. (I sure hope the crooks do not read my articles.) The fancy high-end camera is harder to conceal. Still, putting it in a camouflaged location is probably going to protect it in most instances. Ditto for high-end electronics. Hiding your Bose clock radio is not practical, but you can get in to the habit of placing your Bose headset in a hiding place.
Keeping the Bad Guys Out
Of course, it is much better to prevent a burglar from entering altogether. Here, too, there are two parts. One is making sure your doors and windows are secure. The other is having an alarm in place if he does try to get in. Alarm can both deter thieves and scare them away; they might even help to get them caught.
You need to talk to a locksmith to assess whether your current locks are truly secure. The experts discuss the importance of solid doors and deadbolt locks. Less well known is the fact that the door frame is also important. Often a break-in is accomplished by simply kicking in the doors or windows. You could return home to find your strong door lying still locked on the floor.
Check your shed door as well. Burglars often break into sheds to steal lawnmowers. Windows, too, need to be assessed for security. Eighty-five percent of break-ins are through doors; the rest are through windows. Sometimes they are not even locked!
Alarms exist because no house is impregnable. Today’s alarms are at the cutting edge of wizardry. All sorts of alarms exist. We are familiar with the ones that call a monitoring service or the police. Without a monitoring service one has to hope that a neighbor will call the police or that the noise will scare off the bad guy. (Of course, it’s not a good idea to have a neighbor come inside during a possible break-in.) More advanced alarm systems can text the owner. There are also models that interface with fire and carbon monoxide sensors, so that if any one of them goes off, they all go off.
For those who are looking for something inexpensive, simple door alarms and motion sensor alarms are better than nothing. (Check with your rabbi on whether motion detectors are a problem on Shabbos.) You can buy these gadgets online, but I would first talk to the pros to see what the better alarms would cost. Furthermore, the experts told me that you could be fined for triggering an alarm that keeps ringing.
You can also buy your own security camera online; it connects to the internet and allows you to see what is happening in your house on your smart phone from wherever you are. Another idea is to leave a stack of cash for the crook (all singles please) right on the bedroom dresser. If it is still there when you get home, you’re okay. If the cash has walked, you have problems. In fact, you can train the camera right on that cash to constantly know whether all is fine on the ranch. You don’t have to do it yourself; the experts also have a lot to offer with regards to cameras.
Fake security cameras are also sold online. These are cameras that you install outside the house. Although they don’t work, their purpose is to make the crook think he is on camera. A warning: There have been some lawsuits brought by employees who harmed by an intruder at work and later found out that the security cameras on which they had relied were fake.
Miscellaneous advice: Experts recommend installing outside lighting and removing shrubs from around doors and windows. Setting time clocks to turn lights off and on is an old trick. Again, new technology connects these time clocks to your smart phone, enabling you to lights off and on from anywhere. The old fashioned timer trips at the same time every day. The smart phone timers give your house a more natural “lived-in look.” You might even want to put on a loud radio on a timer. Oh, by the way, do not use a safe that can be carried out; it needs to be bolted to the floor.
If you will be away for a while, you don’t want to “advertise” that fact to burglars. Canceling the mail and newspaper requires telling such workers that you will be away. It is better to have a neighbor bring these items in. Before you go, arrange for someone to put out and bring in the garbage cans, mow the lawn, and shovel the snow (including the snow on your car). Furthermore, do not put out the boxes your expensive new TV came in, and don’t leave a ladder in the yard. And please do not announce vacations on Facebook. While on the topic, cars are important, too. Do not leave goodies (i.e., GPSs, cell phones, etd.) in view. Lock the car, use a club, and set the alarm.
Conclusion
So, let’s review. Get in the habit of hiding jewelry, cash, and small valuables. First, walk through your house and make a list of all valuables, with serial numbers when applicable. Address the issue of where each will be stored and hidden. Write down all your hiding places, and do not lose that paper! (In a recent news story, a rabbi in Connecticut found $98,000 inside a desk when he took it apart for moving. The seller had forgotten that she had hidden the money there! Yes, he returned the money.)
Photograph everything. Consider engraving. Assess doors and locks and think about an alarm system. Set the alarm even if you are leaving for a short time. Practice common sense ways to keep your house looking like you are home. Assess your car security. Hopefully, by implementing these suggestions we will all be safer.
