Stop the thief: Protect your home and family Written by a 27 year police veteran still serving the public I’m sure we all know someone who has been the victim of a burglary and many times have thought, or worried about it will happening to us. The personal violation. The insurance claim. The damage repair, (both physically and mentally). Attending court, (if they are apprehended). Worrying that it will happen again and again. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are simple steps that you can take to prevent this dreadful event from happening, simple adjustments to your home, inside and out. Knowing how the burglar will get in, what he is looking for and how to foil him are weapons we can use to minimize our loss and even drive him away, unfortunately to a less prepared homeowner. There will always be crime. You can’t stop, it but you can divert if from happening to you! There are certain homes they look for, and certain places in the home they attack in search of your belongings. You can change this by changing how your home is set up. Burglar alarms may be a seemingly quick fix but are they all what they are cracked up to be? Not all alarms are the same, or even beneficial to the homeowner. I looked at the statistics to one of Canada’s largest police departments and found that only 1 crook is caught out of over 650 alarm calls police respond to. That’s only .02% (less than ¼ of 1%). Not very good odds, I might say. I’m not saying “don’t get an alarm”. I’m saying you have to do more! I am a 27 year veteran still employed in one of Canada’s largest Metropolitan police departments. I have spent a lifetime investigating probably every kind of crime there is. I have interviewed and spoken candidly, and covertly, to many criminals and have learned their secrets which I want to pass on to you. For example: Where is the first place in your home a burglar will go IF HE GETS IN? Answer: The master bedroom. This is where we all keep our jewelry, wallets, extra cash etc. Don’t give him the pleasure of easily scooping your belongings. Use the laundry room or bathroom. He only has 5 or so minutes to get in and out and the harder you make it for him the faster he will leave empty handed. But your not going to let him get in, or at least make it very difficult on him. You are in control. Like a chess game. You make the first move and watch him try and get around you. You keep making the right move and you will win. Leo Hrankowski Author: www.essentialsofhomesafety.com