• Landscaping – Do not allow your landscaping to create a burglar-friendly environment. Trim bushes and trees away from windows and entry points to eliminate hiding places. Tree limbs should also be trimmed to prevent access to upper floor windows and balconies. Plant thorny bushes close to windows.
• Exterior Lighting – Make sure you have adequate lighting in your yard. Strategically placed motion-detecting security lights can eliminate hiding places where criminals could lurk in the dark. Not only will they illuminate the intruder, but also alert you to outside activity. Mount lights high enough to prevent intruders from disabling them.
• Exterior Doors – Hollow-core exterior doors are inadequate and should be replaced with 1¾“ solid wood, steel or composite material. Invest in high-quality, name-brand deadbolt locks for all exterior doors. Strike plates on most door jams are installed with ½” screws. Replace these with 3” long screws so that locked doors cannot be easily kicked in. Don’t use door chains. Their short screws and weak chains only offer a false sense of security. Doorstops are a more effective deterrent. Install security alarm stickers on all doors. Never leave notes on your door such as “gone shopping.”
• Windows – Install pins in window frames to prevent them from being opened from the outside. Use a bar or similar device on sliding patio doors. Many of the primary locks can be easily defeated. Auxiliary window locks can be found at your local hardware dealer.
• Install Timers – These can be set to turn lights, radios and televisions on and off intermittently to give the appearance that someone is home and may cause burglars to move on to the home where “no one” is there..
• Privacy Fences – Remember that privacy fences limit the ability of your neighbors, as well as police/security patrols, to see the enclosed area. Make sure your privacy fence does not provide cover for a burglar near windows. Install good quality padlocks on gates.
• Garage & Shed – The most secure garage door lock is one that is applied inside and has no outside keyway. Interior and exterior doors within the garage should be solid wood, steel or composite material equipped with a good deadbolt lock. Hang blinds / drapes on your garage windows. Always keep your sheds locked and items like bicycles and lawn mowers out of sight.
• Vacations – Secure all points of entry, especially windows.
  Use light timers to give the illusion of activity in the house.
  Tell neighbors you trust how long you’ll be gone and who may be visiting your home while you’re away. Leave them with a telephone number in case of an emergency.Place all valuables in a safety deposit box or burglar proof safe. Have somebody mow your lawn or shovel your snow.
• Mail Delivery – When staying away from home, discontinue mail and newspaper delivery. Even better, have somebody pick it up for you. Lack of routine delivery may be as good an indication of a vacant home as is a mailbox over-stuffed with mail. 
• New Purchases – A good indication that you've just purchased a new computer, piece of equipment or expensive appliance is leaving the box it came in at the curbside. Don't advertise.  Always break down your product boxes before placing them out at the curb for trash pick up..
• Home Inventory – Keep a complete “personal property inventory list” in a safe place with your insurance papers. Keep a duplicate copy in a safety deposit box or with a relative for safekeeping. It may help recover stolen property in the event of a burglary and can help to establish a claim with your insurance company.

  Take photos of your belongings and keep a complete list of each item and the room the property was located in. Describe as many details as possible, including model and serial numbers, sizes, colors; the material the item is made of, the purchase price and date.

  Whenever possible mark your property with your drivers’ license number – not a social security number – if they are the same number use a different identifying mark.

• Always be observant of your surroundings.
• Walk assertively, criminals randomly choose victims who appear easily intimidated and vulnerable. Assertive body language can help prevent an assault.
• Stay in well-lit areas and avoid sidewalks where shrubs, alleys and dark doorways can hide attackers.
• Walk with a companion whenever possible – there really is “safety in numbers”.
• Always have your keys in hand when approaching your home, business or your car.
• When walking amongst a crowd, wear your purse over your shoulder with the opening toward your body. If someone grabs it, let it go. Keep wallets in front pant pockets or a jacket. Carry only what is necessary in your purse.
• If you think you are being followed, cross the street and change directions a couple times. Walk or run quickly to an open business or where crowds of people are gathered and can help if needed. DO NOT GO HOME. You don’t want to let a stranger know where you live!

• Tips to be inserted.

• Don’t use your name or telephone number on your answering machine message. Use a generic message that doesn’t state that you are not home.
• Never say you are home alone.
• Don’t answer personal questions on telephone surveys - Do not give out ANY personal information unless you initiated the phone call.
• When you receive a prank or obscene phone call, discourage callers from calling back by hanging up immediately – do not engage in any type of conversation with the caller. If a caller continues to harass you, keep a written log of occurances and contact your local police department.
• Don’t let strangers in to use your telephone.

• Always turn your car off and remove keys from the ignition. Thieves often hang around gas stations and convenience stores waiting for the opportunity to steal your car.
• NEVER leave a child in the car unattended.
• Keep valuables out of sight either in the trunk or hidden in the car.
• For your personal safety as well as your cars’, always park in busy, well-lit areas.
• Do not attempt to stop a potential car jacking – your car is certainly not worth risking your life.
• If you think you’re being followed – DO NOT go home! Instead go to an open business (or police station). If you are still being followed, call the police from there.
• Be suspicious of “accidents” which occur on deserted roads for no apparent reason. In this case – DO NOT stop to exchange information with the other driver. This is a common ploy used by criminals to burglarize or attack unsuspecting drivers. Instead, drive to the closest open business or police station to report the accident.

• Get to know your neighbors and agree to advise each other of any work that will be performed on your home or when you’re moving. Individuals who appear to be performing legitimate home repairs often burglarize homes without interruption because neighbors are unaware of each other’s plans.
• Get together with your neighbors and agree to help each other out if you see or hear something suspicious.
• The neighborhood watch program is an excellent crime prevention program but only works when everyone realizes that the threat exists and truly works together. Contact your local police department if you’re interested in forming a “neighborhood watch” program in your community.

The Federal Trade Commission's 2002 Annual Report details Identity Theft fraud complaints jumped from 220,000 in 2001 to 380,000 in 2002, and the dollar loss consumers attributed to the fraud they reported grew from $160 million in 2001 to $343 million in 2002.

In case you or someone you know becomes a victim of this crime, the following steps should be taken immediately to help reduce your loss:

• Cancel your credit cards. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.
• File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
• Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. The numbers are:

  Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
  Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
  Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

  Social Security Administration (fraud hotline): 
  1-800-269-0271

Below are some actions you can take to minimize the chance of becoming a victim of this rising crime in the first place:

• Keep all personal records such as bank statements, checks, credit card statements, utility bills, etc. in a safe place. Do not leave them out in the open.
• Instead of throwing away credit card offers, receipts or any other paperwork with identifying names /numbers on them either burn them or use a cross-cut shredder. Regular shredders are insufficient and persistent criminals will take the time to put the pieces back together to obtain your precious personal information.
• Do not give out any personal information over the telephone unless you initiate the call.
• Never sign a blank check or endorse your paycheck in advance.
• Periodically review your credit report from all three major credit-reporting agencies for any discrepancies or accounts that have been opened without your consent.
• When paying your bills – do not leave them in your mailbox for the carrier to pick up, drop them in a postal box whenever possible. In this instance, the "little red flag" on your mailbox becomes an instant red flag for identity thieves.
• The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks.
• Put your work phone number on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box use your work address.
• Never have your Social Security number printed on your checks – you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.
• Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

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For additional and more in-depth tips to help protect you and your family, please visit the National Crime Prevention Council

Looking for Gate Safety Tips? Go here: Automatic Gate Operator Safety Tips.

Property crimes committed in the U.S.

One PROPERTY CRIME
every 3 seconds

One BURGLARY
every 8 seconds

One LARCENY-THEFT every 4 seconds

The FBI states:

"There is a burglary in this country every 8 seconds."

The Department of Justice says:

"One of every four homes in this country will be burglarized within the next 10 years. Three of four homes will be burglarized in the next 20 years."

Criminal offenses committed in the United States