Triad & You

 

TRIAD is a program of philosophy which focuses on reducing criminal victimization of older Americans, and the enhancement of the delivery of law enforcement services to these individuals. It is a symbol of unity between local police, the Sheriff, and the American Association of Retired Persons ( A.A.R.P.)   The main purpose is to reduce senior victimization, enhance a sense of security among seniors through education, training and involvement and improve the overall quality of life for seniors. The Rockland County TRIAD and all police agencies in Rockland County recognize the safety concerns of our senior citizens  is a priority consideration.  They are most vulnerable to the criminal element and require a special effort and plan for their protection.  Therefore, by identifying these needs we will be able to develop methods of crime prevention techniques that will benefit the senior community and enable them to live in a secure environment.  By developing programs to combat crime,  we will be able to reduce both criminal victimization and unwarranted fear of crime affecting older people.  The main area of focus is on programs that will teach prevention techniques geared toward the elderly in cooperation with the law enforcement community.  TRIAD is a not for profit organization and its intent is to educate and enhance crime prevention services for the elderly.

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SECURITY IN THE HOME FOR SENIORS

 

The most common threat to your home is burglary.  Statistically, about 70% of the burglars use some amount force to enter a dwelling, but their preference is to gain easy access through an open door or window. Ordinary household tools like screwdrivers, channel-lock pliers, small pry bars, and small hammers are most frequently used by burglars in a forced entry. 

A burglar may bypass your home if it requires too much effort or requires more skill and tools than he or she possesses. Most burglars enter via the front, back, or garage doors. Experienced burglars know that the garage door is usually the weakest point of entry followed by the back door.

 

Doors & Locks

Doors and locks are your first line of home security. Exterior doors should be metal or solid-core or 1 ¾ “ hardwood. Hollow doors should only be used for interior applications. Make sure each door fits snug in its frame with no more than 1/8” clearance. When locked, the door should shut tightly with no play.  If there is a gap between the door and the stop, the door is much easier to force open. The easiest way to force entry through a door with a wooden jamb is to simply kick it open.

You have security with a lock only when you can account for every key.  If you’ve lost keys or are buying an existing home, pay for a qualified and reputable locksmith to change the keyways.  Consider a quality deadbolt lock.  It should have a beveled casing to inhibit the use of channel-lock pliers used to shear off lock cylinder pins.  Key-in-the knob locksets offer very little security.   A higher quality door knob-in-lock set should have a “dead latch” mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card.  Double-cylinder deadbolts are those that have no inside thumb-turn, but require a key to open from both the exterior and interior. While much more secure, they can pose a threat to personal safety in the event of fire. Most law enforcement officials agree that this threat can be minimized by forming the habit of inserting yours key(s) in the main entry lockset whenever anyone is home.  The safest locksets are called panic-proof deadbolts; they give you the security provided by a deadbolt but, open from the inside with a single action (usually a turn of the knob), thus preventing any entrapment inside your home in the event of an emergency. On the down side, panic-proof deadbolts are somewhat vulnerable to manipulation from outside if adjacent to a glass panel.

Door viewers are available that give a very wide field of view.  The wider the field, the better the security.  Use a wide-angle 160° peephole viewer mounted no higher than 58 inches.

 

Sliding-Glass Patio Doors

Sliding glass doors are generally secured by latches not locks. They are vulnerable to being forced open from the outside because of these cheap latch mechanisms. This can be easily be prevented by inserting a wooden dowel or stick into the track thus preventing or limiting movement of the door while in the closed position. Other blocking devices available are metal fold-down blocking devices called "charley bars" and various track-blockers that can be screwed down.  Also, you can install a pin-lock (drill a hole completely through the sliding panel so that a solid metal pin can be inserted and secure the sliding to the fixed panel).

 

Garage Doors

Remember to always keep your garage door closed and locked. This will prevent thefts from your garage. Once a burglar is inside the garage, he can work on your house or property undetected.

Garage door openers are vulnerable to defeat by using electronic devices.  If your garaged door is equipped with an electronic opener, is it a current technology system with multi-channel (owner-selectable) or rolling coding?  Can it conveniently be turned off for vacations?  If not, it can always be unplugged.

 

Windows

Most burglars are generally reluctant to break glass as the sound carries a greater distance and might be heard by a neighbor. Windows are left unlocked and open by homeowners at a much higher rate than doors.  Windows have latches, not locks, and therefore should have secondary blocking devices to prevent sliding them open from the outside.  Inexpensive wooden dowels and sticks work well for horizontal sliding windows and through-the-frame pins or screws work well for vertical sliding windows.  The least expensive and easiest method is to install screws halfway into the upper track of the movable glass panel to prevent it from being lifted out in the closed position.  Double-hung sash windows can be secured with a pin-lock similar to those described above for sliding doors; a hole is drilled completely through the inside sash so that a pin can be inserted which projects into the outside sash, thus securing both in place.

 

Lighting

Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of life and activity inside a residence at night. A darkened home, night-after-night, sends the message to burglars that you are away on a trip. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when you’re away.  You should use more than one timer, setting each to go on and off at different times during the evening hours.  The same light timers can be used to turn on radios or television sets to further enhance the illusion of occupancy.

Exterior lighting is also very important.  Good lighting is definitely a deterrent to criminals, because they don't want to be seen or identified.  It’s important to have the perimeter of your home well lighted, especially at the entryway.  Use at least a 60 watt bulb.  Your exterior lighting should also be on a timer or photocell, to turn on at dusk and turn off at dawn. The practice of leaving the garage or porch lights turned on all day is a dead giveaway that you are out of town.  Very inexpensive motion sensor light fixtures, or motion sensor devices can also be installed in almost any existing exterior fixture that will turn on the light automatically when anyone approaches the door.

 

Alarm Systems

Alarm systems, although somewhat costly, are a good investment and are definitely a vital part of your home security game plan.  First, weigh the advantages against the cost factor. Alarm systems can significantly enhance your security if installed and properly maintained.  Such systems may deter burglaries because they increase the potential for the burglar being caught.  The preferred system is that which will dial a monitoring company if there is a breached entry into your home.  If you don’t feel you can stand the expense of a monitored alarm system, consider one that sounds a loud audible alarm outside your house.  Unfortunately, an improperly maintained audible alarm system could trigger false alerts and become an annoyance to your neighbors.  An additional deterrent value comes from the alarm company lawn sign and from the alarm decals on your windows.  Many alarms systems can also monitor for fire as well as burglary.  If you’re considering having an alarm system installed in your home, always use a licensed vendor to install, repair, or service an alarm system.

 

Your Home’s Exterior

Take the time to walk around the outside of your home and look at it from a burglar’s point of view.  Where would you find the easiest place to force entry?  Are their places or large bushes where a burglar could hide if a car approached?  Are there entry points that can’t be seen from the street or from your neighbor’s window?  Keep your shrubs trimmed below windows to reduce cover for a thief. A burglar would rather enter through a window that is hidden from view than one where he or she is exposed.

 

Identify Your Property

Engrave some sort of  personal coding, not your social security number, on televisions, stereos, computers, and small electronic appliances. This enables you to identify your property if your stolen items are recovered.  We recommend that you photograph your valuables in their locations around your home and make a list of the make, model, and serial numbers. This is very important for proof when filing insurance claims. You should keep this list in a safety deposit box or with a relative for safekeeping. Keep receipts of the larger items in case you need to prove the value of the items for insurance purposes.

 

Common Sense Tips

·         Keep all your doors locked, even if you’re home.

·         Never leave your house key hidden outside under a doormat, in a flowerpot, or on the top ledge of a door.

·         If you’re going to be away for an extended period, make your house appear "lived in".  Use your timers for lights and radios. Stop mail and other deliveries when you leave for vacation or have a neighbor pick your mail, packages and newspapers.  Arrange to have your lawn mowed.

·         Notify your local police department when you will be leaving and when you will return. Leave your trip plans and an emergency phone number with a relative, trusted neighbor, or friend.

·         Make sure you know who is at the door before you open it. Do not rely on chain locks. Insist on identification from repair and sales persons. If in doubt, call their company to verify their identity – before you let them in.

·         Do not admit persons asking to use your telephone. Offer to make the call for them.

·         If you come home and find a door or window open or signs of forced entry, do not enter.  Go to a neighbor and call the police for assistance.  The responding officers will check your house first and then will come to your location and advise you of their findings. If in fact your house was burglarized, the officers will conduct an investigation and will need your assistance in providing a list of the stolen items. They may also request you to submit to a set of fingerprints for elimination purposes if any fingerprints are located within the residence.

·         If a burglar confronts you in your home, remember that in general, most burglars may not resort to violence unless cornered. Once the burglar has fled, notify the police department immediately by calling 911, and advise the dispatcher of this information and the direction the burglar fled, if available.

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TRIAD Officers: 
Denis Herlihy, President
Jim Finn, Vice President
Ed Berrigan, Secretary
Claire Brew, Treasurer

 

Rockland County
2008-2009
Ready Reference Guide PDF File 1.1mb
Click Here

 

Topics

 

Frauds, Scams & Flimflams

 

IDENTITY THEFT

 

Please refer to the "Links" portion of our website at the top of the opening page for the various websites that offer information on  the issue of Identity Theft.

SECURITY IN THE HOME FOR SENIORS