Home Burglary

Each year there are more than five million reports of burglaries. Typically, burglaries are preventable. The risk of being burglarized can be greatly reduced by taking simple steps.

• Install motion sensors or photoelectric lights on your outside lights.
• Mount exterior lights out of reach so that can not be tampered with.
• Use light timers inside your home to give it a "lived-in" look.

• Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. The deadbolt should have at least a 1-inch throw and the strike plate should have 3-inch screws
• Use supplemental locking systems (such as a charley bar and pinning) on windows and sliding glass doors.
• Make sure your front door is solid core and has a peep hole with at least 180 degrees of sight so that you are able to see who is at your door before opening it.

• Trim trees up at least six feet and shrubs down at least 3 feet to open up sightlines to and from your property. This will also eliminate a hiding place for a would-be burglar.
• Be sure to store items that could be used to enter your home. Lock up tools, ladders, etc.
• When installing landscape rock, use rock the size of river rock or smaller. Secure anything larger so that it can’t be removed and used as a tool to gain entry.

Landscaping

Target Hardening

Lighting

Comments

[patric]

Some more thoughts about lighting as prevention:

Use motion detector lighting *instead of* most dusk-to-dawn (photocell) lighting. Motion detection catches the attention of occupants and neighbors more readily than a ubiquitous on-all-night light, and if installed properly, is more neighbor-friendly and less intrusive.

Some good examples include:
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/jsearch/product.jsp?pn=100041688
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=66565-234-SL4160AB&lpage=none

Dusk-to-dawn "security" lights often have little or no control over glare or "light trespass", causing neighbors to block windows or install heavy drapes (which then hamper a neighborhoods "natural surveillance" and neighborhood watch efforts).

Completely avoid floodlighting. The spill from floodlights is difficult to control and often results in glare that hampers the ability of neighbors or police to observe a property. Utility-installed outdoor lighting currently available in the Tulsa area is not a good choice due to high amounts of glare and trespass.

As a rule of thumb, any outdoor light (motion detector or dusk-to-dawn) will be more effective if the source of the light (lamp, reflector or lens) is shielded from the direct view of you and your neighbors to prevent glare. A light mounted high and pointed straight down is better for human vision than a low-mounted light pointed outward, and is considerate of neighbors who's ability to see your property could prove to be your best security asset.

Some examples are:
http://www.theglarebuster.com
http://www.regentlighting.com/common/brands.cfm?pg=Detail&brand=Regent&category=Dusk%20to%20Dawn%3A%20%20Incandescent&id=14147

Lastly, the FBI reports that most burglaries (61.7 percent) occur in broad daylight, so no amount of outside lighting should be considered a failsafe defense. (http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel03/ucr2002.htm)

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Thank you for your comments, Patric.
All are excellent suggestions. Lighting is critical in the prevention of home and business break-ins.
Your reminder that most home burglaries occur in the daylight hours is especially appropriate. The numbers in Tulsa bear that out.

[Marie]

What can be done about vandalism? Their are a lot of kids in the area that go around breaking windows of cars, getting in peoples back yards, they are all in middle school or younger age but their parents just dont care. They let them roam the streets at all hours of the night. I'm concerned for the safety of the older people in the area. And Im concerned for the kids, they need someone to care and keep them out of trouble. E Newton St. (between Memorial and Sheridan) Tulsa

[Marie]

I am concerned about the area Between sheridan and memorial (E Newton St) There have been alot of problems with the area teens. They have damaged peoples cars, they go in their back yards, they stand in the middle of the road and wont let cars pass by. The curse and yell at people driving and even just walking down the street. I know these kids will graduate into doing worse if something isnt done.

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Marie,

I have forwarded your concerns to the Uniform Division East Commander to increase police patrol in the area.

In addition, I would like to encourage you to call us [(918) 596-9222] and request officers when you see these activities. We will not always be able to respond in as timely manner as we like, depending on the specific nature of your call, but please do call.

Thank you for reading and your comments,

Will

[Kara]

I'm concerned about the intersection at 31st and Sheridan. It seems to be getting worse by the week. People just park in the middle of the intersection because the traffic backs up so far from the BA on ramp. Sometimes I have to sit through 2 lights because I'm blocked in by the people sitting in the intersection. This causes very angy reactions from people behind me. They honk and yell and curse, try to swerve around the people blocking the intersection, causing near accidents and I am sure actual accidents.

I have to drive through that intersection taking my children to and from school. It's becoming so dangerous that I really think something needs to be done about it.

Can anything be done to keep these people from blocking 2 lanes of traffic?

By the way, good job on catching those speeders coming down Hudson from 41st and going down the hill under the BA. I think it's really helped slow people down because they just never know when you are going to be there waiting. There are a lot of kids who walk home from school down that way. Thanks for slowing people down!

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Kara,

I have forwarded your comment to the proper squad...

Thank You,

Will