• The house was not locked or kept open.
• Its locks were not sturdy enough.
• The doors were not strong.
• There was no grill gate.
• Windows had grills fitted to the frame through screws which made the burglar’s task easy. He had to only unscrew and gain entry.

The burglars select houses which are vulnerable and leave house which appears well protected. Many burglaries and thefts take place because of the negligence of the owners.

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Here are the precautions that you should take

• Make sure every external door has a sturdy, well-installed dead bolt lock.
• When you move into a new house or apartment, change the locks.
• Fix strong window grills and AC grills embedded deep into the wall to make removal of the grills impossible
• Seal entry straight into the house from the terrace door; and to use dead bolt locks (box-like locking system) with long keys for doors.
• Secure the outer door keys with utmost care in a hidden place particularly during summer nights when the inmates sleep on the terrace.
• Don’t leave the key on the lock itself when you go to sleep. There were instances of the thieves inserting a news paper in the gap below the door , then pushing the key to fall down on the news paper by using a pin. Then they pulled the paper, got possession of the key and opened from outside and gained entry.
• Keep valuables always in the Bank locker.
• Provide enough lighting near the external entries to the house.
• Bring it to the notice of the Authority concerned immediately about non-functioning street lights
• Inform police of the locked house during outstation trips.
• Appoint security agency men for colonies; to ward off small thieves and unidentified persons.
• Don’t go out alone with excessive jewels.
• Beware of sales people and unidentifiable service persons; and don’t to open the door to strangers.
• If you find a car parked in front of your house suspiciously longer, keep an eye. The thieves keep a watch of the movements in a house sitting in a car fitted with tinted window glasses.
• Know your neighbor and make friendship with the neighbors.

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Check the Doors

• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.
• If your doors don’t fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.
• Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don’t keep out intruders.

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Check the Outside

Look at your house from the outside. Make sure you know the following tips:

• Thieves hate lights. Install outside light and keep them out at night..
• Clearly display your house number so police and other emergency vehicles can find your home quickly.
• If you travel, create the illusion that you’re at home by getting some timers that will turn lights on and off in different areas of your house throughout the evening. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.
• Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And don’t let your mail pile up! Call the post office to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick it up.
• Make a list of your valuables – VCRs, stereos, computers, jewellery. Take photos of the items, list their serial numbers and descriptions. Check with law enforcement about engraving your valuables through operation Identification.
• Ask local law enforcement for a free home security survey.
• To look the external doors even while at home, particularly before sleeping; not to sleep near open windows wearing jewels; and not to place valuables documents, or even a cupboard near any window. Bureau Pulling is a common crime. The thieves pull the bureau near the window through ropes fitted with hooks and open it and thieve

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Consider an Alarm

Alarms can be a good investment, especially if you have many valuables in your home, or live in an isolated area or one with a history of break-ins.

• Check with several companies before you buy so you can decide what level of security fits your needs. Do business with an established company and check references before signing a contract.
• Learn how to use your system properly! Don’t make false alarms. People will stop paying attention and you’ll probably be fined.
• Some less expensive options… a sound-detecting socket that plugs into a light fixture and makes the light flash when it detects certain noises, motion sensing outdoor lights that turn on when someone approaches, or lights with photo cells that turn on when its dark and off when its light.

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Burglars do more than steal

Burglars can commit rapes, robberies, and assaults if they are surprised by someone coming home or pick a home that is occupied.

• If something looks questionable – a slit screen, a broken window or an open door – don’t go in. call the police from a neighbors house or a public phone.
• At night, if you think you hear someone breaking in, leave safely if you can, then call police. If you can’t leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call police. If an intruder is in your room, pretend you are asleep.
• Guns are responsible for many accidental deaths in the home every year. Think carefully before buying a gun. If you do own one, learn how to store and use it safely.

There’s more you can do

• Join a Neighborhood Watch Group. If one doesn’t exist, you can start one with help from local law enforcement.
• Never leave a message on your answering machine that indicates you may be away from home. Rather than saying “I’m not at home right now”, say “I’m not available right now”.
• Work with neighbors and local Government to organize community clean-ups. The cleaner your neighborhood, the less attractive it is to crime.

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While on travel

• Take note of the vehicle registration number
• Don’t get close or distracted by strangers when traveling with documents and valuables in a hired vehicle
• Inform suspicious person to the police at once.

Do a brainstorming with other members of family and get ideas from them. That will make them think and will make sure of their involvement.