RESIDENTIAL SECURITY

Residential Security - Basics

Lee County Sheriff's Office is concerned about the security of your residence. By following the suggestions in this pamphlet we hope that your home will become less a target of a burglar. The key areas of concern for residential security are doors, locks, windows, landscaping, lighting and alarms.

Are exterior doors made of a solid core construction (including the door leading from the garage to the house)?

HINGE DOORS - The most common door type used in homes and apartments is the hinge door. It is important that all exterior doors be of solid wood core construction or steel clad doors. Avoid light gauge aluminum. Hollow core or composition board doors are not effective deterrents because they can be easily battered or bored. It is defeating the purpose of a good deadbolt lock to mount it on a hollow or foam core door.

HINGE PINS - If door hinges are exposed on the exterior of the door, non-removable hinge pins should be used. To prevent removal of a door that has removable hinge pins, you can employ a headless screw or nail. Drill two holes opposite each other in the center of both leaves of the hinge. Insert headless screw or nail into the leaf on the door frame side. Allow screw or nail to protrude ½ “. When the door is closed, the screw will engage the other hinge leaf.

Do your door frames fit snugly around your exterior doors?

DOOR FRAME - Inspect door frame and repair any splitting or rotting. Wooden frames should be at least 2” thick. If a hollow steel frame is used, the residual air space behind the frame should be filled with a crush-resistant material such as cement grout. This will prevent an intruder from wedging a crowbar between the door and frame to free the door. You can strengthen the frame by removing some of the short screws in the door hinges and replacing them with longer screws (at least 2”). Also use longer screws in the lock strike.

Is there a viewer on the front door?

PEEPHOLE VIEWER - The front door should have a wide-angle viewer (180 degree minimum) installed in it for easy viewing of visitors without opening the door. It is inexpensive and easy to install.

Are sliding glass doors secured with auxiliary locks or pinned?

SLIDING GLASS DOORS - Sliding glass doors are frequent points of entry for burglars. The locks they come equipped with can usually be quickly pried open. The doors can also be easily removed from their tracks unless they are properly secured.

1. To prevent removal of doors, install 1 1/4 “ pan head (large head) sheet metal screws in upper track at both ends and the middle so the frame clears the head of the screws. To secure a door in position, you can also drill a hole at a downward angle in the overlapping frames of the door at the top center. Then insert a steel pin or heavy nail.
   
2. There are different types of sliding glass door auxiliary locks that can be used but key operated locks usually offer the best security – especially those using a deadbolt or pin mechanism.
   
3. A metal bar that attaches to the side frame and fits across the middle of the sliding door, running parallel to the floor, can be used to prevent opening of the door.

Do you have jalousie door protection?

JALOUSIE DOORS – Jalousie doors are a poor security risk because a burglar can easily gain entry through them. The best solution is to replace them with solid wood core doors. If this is not feasible, the door can be covered on the inside with heavy gauge mesh, through-bolted to the door with carriage bolts.

Are your double doors secured?

DOUBLE DOORS – The inactive door can be secured by installing cane bolts on both the top and bottom of the door.

Are windows secured with auxiliary-keyed locks or pinned with a nail?

WINDOWS - All windows should be

secured. Auxiliary–keyed locks should be used or a pin or nail should be used to prevent the window from being opened. If security concerns warrant it, the installation of security film coating should be considered.

Are all your outside doors equipped with adequate one-inch deadbolt locks?

LOCKS - Adequate locks should be installed. A locksmith should be consulted to determine the correct application for doors and windows. Do not rely on a chain latch for your entry doors. It is not a security device.

Does your shrubbery follow the 4-7 Rule?

LANDSCAPING - Landscaping decisions should be based on not hindering the visibility and natural surveillance of the residence from the road and neighboring homes. Shrubbery should be trimmed to no higher than 4 feet and tree limbs and branches no lower than 7 feet from the ground. Landscaping can provide hiding places for criminals. Certain thorny plantings near a window can reduce that area from being an entry point for a burglar.

Do exterior lights illuminate all entrances to your home?

LIGHTING - Properly placed lighting can be an effective deterrent to crime. Motion sensor light fixtures are effective, as well as those lighting systems that come on at night.

Is your alarm system routinely serviced/ maintained?

ALARM SYSTEMS - The installation, correct usage, maintenance, and monitoring of a home alarm system can improve residential security. Consult our office to obtain information about the requirements of the Lee County Alarm Ordinance. There are two types of intruder detection alarms, silent and audible. The basic purpose of an alarm device is to deter an intruder from entering your home and to alert law enforcement of an illegal entry.

For More Information Contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office Community Outreach Unit at 477-1400. The Lee County Sheriff's Office has Crime Prevention Specialists that are available to answer questions relating to this brochure or other safety concerns and are available to conduct a wide variety of educational programs free of charge.

It is the policy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to protect the Constitutional rights of all people, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical handicap, religion or other belief system or physical characteristic; and to treat each person with respect and dignity.

“Proud To Serve”
Sheriff Mike Scott