One of the more frightening and potentially dangerous crimes that can occur to a person is burglary. A burglary is when a burglar forces his or herself into any building or part of the building as a trespasser and with intent to commit any such offence as stealing, attempts to steal or inflicts or attempts to inflict grievous bodily harm on any person therein.
Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of reports of burglaries that occurred while occupants are sleeping in the comfort of their homes. Burglars expect privacy once inside a home that is occupied; they won’t have to overcome alarm systems or worried about video cameras and silent alarms.
The weakest home security link is the home occupant who fails to lock doors or windows or who will open the door without question at the sound of a knock. If you become a victim of a burglary while you’re at home, you should know how to act to avoid unnecessary harm from the burglar. Once the offender takes control of a residence, they can force the occupants to open safes, locate hidden valuables, supply keys to a vehicle, and pin number to ATM cards, etc.
Your home is your castle.
Your home is considered a sanctuary where you should feel safe and it is the only environment where you have control over who can get close to you or your family. Here are some safety tips to help you protect your home and family from criminal intrusion.
1. Lock all outside doors and windows before you go to bed.
2. Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
3. Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
4. Leave lights on when you go out. If you are going to be away for a length of time, connect some lamps to automatic timers to
5. Turn them on in the evening and off during the day.
6. Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen.
7. When moving into a new home, have all locks changed
8. Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards.
9. Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders.
10. Make sure your door hinges are on the inside
11. Be a good neighbor. If you notice anything suspicious in your neighborhood, call 9-1-1 immediately.
12. Mark your valuables with your driver’s license number with an engraver you can borrow from your precinct. Marked items are harder for a burglar to dispose of and easier for police to recover.