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What Should I Do If It Happens? M Sign the back of new credit cards as soon as 6XPPHU&DELQ3URWHFWLRQ  M Contact your local police department as soon as you get them. Destroy unwanted cards. )LVK+RXVH&ULPH:DWFK possible. Most fraudulent use of cards or checks takes place within days of being lost or stolen. Protect Your Mail from Theft? %ORFN:DWFK&OXEVDQG1HLJKERUKRRG:DWFK  M Install a locked mailbox at your residence. M Contact the fraud departments of the three %XUJODU$ODUPV  major credit bureaus as soon as possible. M Do not leave paid bills in your mailbox for pickup. Ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on your M Have your mail held by the post office if you 2EVHUYLQJ6XVSLFLRXV$FWLYLW\ name and Social Security number immediately will be away from home. 5HSRUWLQJ&ULPHVWR3ROLFH  so hopefully law enforcement will be contacted If Your Social Security Card Was Taken if a business checks with the credit bureau. $GGLWLRQDO&ULPH3UHYHQWLRQ7LSV M Call the Social Security Administration Fraud This will also show up if you use your accounts Hotline S.S.A. Fraud Hotline: 800-269-0271. without changing them, so you may wish to :KDWLV,GHQWLW\7KHIW carry a copy of the police report with you to Helpful Phone Numbers of Three Major minimize credit hassles for yourself. Credit Bureaus M Contact the credit departments as soon as Equifax — www.equifax.com possible about any accounts that have been To order your report, call 800-685-1111 This document can be made available in alternative formats by calling 651-793-1100. tampered with or opened fraudulently. Experian — www.experian.com Minnesota Crime Watch thanks the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association for its help M Contact the postal service as soon as possible To order your report, call 888-EXPERIAN in publishing this booklet. if you think your mail has been stolen. (888-397-3742); To report fraud, call 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742) A special thanks to Menards for assisting with photography and information. Keep a list of phone numbers handy for all credit cards and financial institutions you may need TransUnion — www.tuc.com quickly if your purse or wallet is stolen, including To order your report, call 800-916-8800 account numbers and expiration dates. If you To report fraud, call 800-680-7289

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A home security survey is designed to show frames that cannot spread apart with a pry Follow these steps when reporting a crime M Describe one thing at a time, simply and citizens where their homes are vulnerable bar are recommended. to police. clearly. This will make your report much to forced entry. Locks are checked, windows clearer to the person taking the call. M Remain calm. inspected and security weaknesses are Door Locks Quality deadbolt locks with a minimum one- M Be patient. Answer all questions. identified during the survey. The information M Call 911. Help may be on the way even before gathered will show what steps are needed inch throw are recommended. These locks M Identify yourself and give your location. you’re through answering the questions. to make homes more burglary-resistant. should be mounted so one cannot open the door after breaking a window. Mounting M Describe what is happening or what you M Stay on the line until all the questions Ask your local law enforcement agency to the lock low on the door can sometimes saw happen. asked by the person taking the call have conduct a survey of your home. eliminate this problem. been answered. M Describe the suspect or suspects. Main Level Windows Garage Glass is most vulnerable to attack. But, Garage doors should be secured to elimi- many burglars are reluctant to break nate a burglar access to tools that could windows because they’re visible from help them break into the house. Also, a $GGLWLRQDO&ULPH3UHYHQWLRQ7LSV the street or from neighboring dwellings. garage is a place for an intruder to hide. Windows hidden from view must be M Lock the front door when working in the M Never automatically open your door securely protected. Lights back yard. Lock the back door when when someone knocks or rings the Flood lights at exterior doors and by garage working in the front yard. doorbell. Use the 180-degree viewer to Basement Windows doors are recommended. Use timers on check the person’s identification and M Don’t hide keys under the doormat or Basement windows should be secured to interior lights when not at home. business. If in doubt, call the company anywhere outside. prevent forcing. Window locks should not to check the authenticity of identification. House Number be vulnerable if the glass is broken. M Never leave written messages outside M If someone comes to your door asking Screening materials can be used effectively A house number should be clearly displayed your home. It’s a sign that the home to use your phone for an emergency, on window wells or on window framing. and well lighted at night for law enforcement is unoccupied. to see. offer to make the call for them. Don’t Sliding Glass Door M Re-key all exterior locks when moving let them in your house. Sliding glass doors can be secured with a Shrubs into a new home. M Place your law enforcement agency’s Charley bar, pinning or with simple locks. Plants should be trimmed so they don’t block possible points of entry or conceal M Do not allow children to open doors emergency phone number near your Exterior Doors a potential attacker. to strangers. telephone. Solid core hardwood doors with rugged

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M A strange vehicle left running and parked Robbery is taking another’s property by If you check the following items, you have M Are garage doors closed and locked on your street. force or the threat of force. It involves greatly reduced the chance of burglary. when not in use? (See page 5) confrontation with the offender. If you did not check an item, refer to the M Someone shouting “Help,” “Fire” M Are doors locked at all times? page mentioned for information about or “Rape.” (See page 6) Larceny is stealing something without force increasing security. M Shots, alarms or windows being broken. or entry, such as pickpocketing or shoplifting. M Are deadbolt locks, with a minimum one- M Do exterior lights illuminate your home? M Someone tampering with a neighbor’s inch throw, installed on exterior doors? Vandalism is the destruction or defacing (See page 1) vehicle. (See page 6) of property. M Is shrubbery trimmed so a burglar can’t M M Are heavy duty strike plates mounted on Someone with a weapon. hide near windows and doors? Assault is when one hurts or tries to exterior door frames? (See page 7) (See page 1) M Someone entering or leaving a business hurt another. before or after business hours. M Are windows secured with auxiliary locks M Are exterior doors made of solid Sexual assault is when a person is forced or pinned with a nail? (See page 8) M Someone carrying items of value from a hardwood? (See page 3) into sexual activity he or she does not want neighbor’s home. M Are you enrolled in Operation to be involved in or is under the age of M Is there a 180-degree viewer in the Identification? (See page 10) M Someone who appears to be moving consent. Sexual assault is not just rape. front door? (See page 3) household items late at night. M Do you report suspicious persons or M Are sliding glass doors pinned or secured activity to the police immediately? with auxiliary locks? (See page 4) Definitions of common crimes: (See page 18) Burglary is when one enters a structure M Are sheet metal screws inserted through illegally with the intention of committing a the upper track of the sliding glass door serious crime, such as stealing something frame to prevent removal of the doors? or hurting someone. (See page 4)

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17 2 +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ ([WHULRU 'RRUV %XUJODU$ODUPV All exterior doors should be made of solid To determine if you have a solid or hollow Residential burglar alarms are not universal reconsider forced entry if they know you wood, steel or fiberglass. These doors resist core door, try driving a push pin into the solutions to home burglaries. They do have an alarm system. forced entry because they are not easily door edge. If the pin does not go in easily, not substitute for locked doors For an alarm system to be battered or bored. the door is solid hardwood. and windows or for other effective, the alarm must precautions. Hollow core doors made of soft, thin wood sense and signal cannot stand much battering and should You may want to an intrusion, not be used as exterior doors. Mounting consider instal- followed by the a deadbolt lock on a hollow core door ling a burglar response of law compromises the security of these locks. alarm if you live in a high enforcement officers. crime or isolated area, or are absent For more information about burglar from home for considerable periods of alarms, ask your local law enforcement time and if you have valuable possessions. agency for the Minnesota Crime Watch Cross-section of a The purpose of an alarm system is to booklet, “Burglar Alarms: Do You hollow core door deter potential intruders. Most burglars will Need One?”

Cross-section of a 2EVHUYLQJ6XVSLFLRXV$FWLYLW\ solid core door If you see or are confronted by a burglar, M Did suspect have a weapon. take note of everything that you can. Note M Approximate age. the suspect’s size, weight, build, dress, speech, abnormalities and method and M Vehicle color, year and make.

direction of escape. M Vehicle license plate number.

The police will ask you about the following M Direction suspect escaped. information. M Was there more than one person involved M Hair color and style. in the crime. Peephole M Height and weight. Install a 180-degree, wide-angle viewer to Here is a list of suspicious activities which exterior doors so you can see who is at the M Facial hair and complexion. should be reported to your local law enforce- ment agency. This list is not intended to be door before opening it. M Eye color or if wearing glasses. complete. Use your own judgment when Do not rely on door chain latches for M Nationality or speech characteristics. reporting other suspicious activities. protection against would-be attackers. M Visible scars, marks or tattoos. M Someone trying to enter a neighbor’s They are not security devices. M Type of shirt, pants, shoes or hat person home by a window or side door. was wearing. continued on page 17

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Every winter, frozen Minnesota lakes using hinge pins. Install a deadbolt lock and Burglars often enter dwellings through M Drill a downward angled hole at the top become small towns of fish houses. reinforce the frame and strike plate or use sliding glass doors because they can be center of the door’s overlapping frames. The average fish house is equipped with a strong steel hasp that covers the screws. easily forced open. To prevent forced Then insert a steel pin or heavy screw in valuable sporting goods and personal Use a 7/16-inch shank or shankless . entry take one or more of the following the hole. property. You can minimize burglaries Windows should be too small for a thief to precautions: M Place a length of wood in the lower track. by marking your property with Operation crawl through and covered when the house M It is easy for a burglar to pry a sliding Make sure it fits snug and cannot be Identification stickers and by removing is not in use. glass door from its track. To prevent popped out of the track by an intruder. valuable property when the fish house Make arrangements with fishing neighbors this, install three, one and one quarter- Or, as an alternative, buy a sliding door is not in use. to watch each other’s property. Remember, inch, large head sheet metal screws in bolt that locks door to floor frame. You can protect your it is important to report suspicious the upper track of the movable door. M Buy a metal hinge bar, or Charley bar, fish house by mounting activity while it is occurring. Make sure they protrude far enough that attaches to the side frame and folds the door hinges on the inside or so the sliding frame just clears. down across the glass, bracing itself against the opposite frame.

%ORFN:DWFK&OXEVDQG1HLJKERUKRRG:DWFK Anti-Slide Lock Citizens can be involved in Block Watch similar to Block Watch Clubs but may also Clubs and Neighborhood Watch programs implement a complete program of home to help reduce crime in their neighborhood. security surveys and Operation Identification. The objective is to have neighbors watch for To organize a Block Watch Club or a emergencies or unusual behavior and report Neighborhood Watch program, contact Pinning Doors them to the local law enforcement agencies. Slide Bolt your local law enforcement agency. A crime Block watchers are trained by the police prevention officer will meet with you and officers to identify and report suspicious or your neighbors to discuss the programs criminal behavior. Neighborhood Watch is in detail.

Charley Bar

15 4 +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ 6HFXULQJ 'RRUV 6XPPHU&DELQ3URWHFWLRQ Double Doors Garage Doors An extension of Operation Identification side of the cabin refrigerator. Should the The inactive door on double doors can be Secure a case hardened padlock that is is the Home Identification Card program, cabin be burglarized, authorities will use secured by installing cane bolts that are 1/2 notched and locks at both ends of the which is used for summer cabins. Cabins the information to contact the owner. inch in diameter and 12 inches long. Install shackle to your overhead garage door. that are unoccupied during the winter are The Home Identification Card also serves these bolts on the top and bottom of the (See the padlock and hasp section.) easy targets for burglary or vandalism. The as a warning to would-be burglars that door. These bolts should protrude into the Home Identification Card protects against If your overhead garage door rolls on tracks, the property is marked with a PIN and floor and top of the door frame by at least these crimes. The card helps law enforce- drill a hole in the track large enough for a can be identified. 3/4 inch. The door that usually opens ment officers locate you or a designate if padlock to be attached. The padlock will should have a deadbolt lock. the cabin is burglarized or vandalized. prevent the door being opened. Steel pins Home Identification Cards are free and available from local law enforcement can be used in place of the padlock. A Home Identification Card records the agencies. owner’s name, their Operation Identification The door leading from your attached garage number, a winter phone number and a into your house should have a deadbolt local contact. The card is affixed to the right lock mounted on it. This door is a favorite entry point because the burglar has access to your garage tools and is concealed when the garage door is closed.

Electronic garage door openers with automatic locking devices offer good security against burglaries. Always keep the transmitter box in a safe place. It can be stolen and used by a burglar to open your garage door. Mark this box with your Permanent Identification Number if you are enrolled in Operation Identification. If you suspect a stranger has discovered the frequency that activates your opener, 12” High Cane Bolt contact a dealer who will change the Door Jambs frequency. Always unplug the opener Make certain the door jamb — that part when on vacation. of the door frame to which the door is Place translucent contact paper or curtains fastened — is securely attached to studs in over garage windows. Install a yard light the house frame. Also close any wide gaps that can be turned on from inside the between the door and door jamb. Such garage. A well-lighted yard offers security gaps could be used by a burglar to pry as you go from garage to house at night. open an exterior door or loosen a door You should also be able to turn the yard jamb that was not securely attached to light on and off from inside the house. house studs.

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Key-in-knob

The dead locking latch is similar to the spring latch but has a bar on the strike that can be easily opened. It offers little security because the bar is very short and weak. Single cylinder deadbolt lock with key-in-knob spring latch lock.

Single cylinder deadbolts should meet the following criteria to be a good security device:

M The bolt must extend a minimum of one inch and be made of case hardened steel or contain a hardened insert.

M The cylinder guard must be tapered, round and free spinning to make it difficult to grip with pliers or wrench. It must be solid metal — not hollow casting or stamped Dead Locking Latch Spring Latch metal.

Both lock types should be supplemented by M There should be at least a five-pin tumbler deadbolt locks or rim type locks. system or equivalent locking device.

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M The connection screws that hold the lock carriage bolts. Do not use wood screws. These tips can make your apartment or Demand adequate lighting for stairwells, together must be on the inside and made The strike is fastened to the door jamb condominium more burglary-resistant. laundry rooms, parking lots and the of case hardened steel. No exposed with at least 2-inch long wood screws. building exterior. All exterior doors should be checked for screw heads should be on the outside. Besides installing deadbolt or rim type adequate security. After moving in, ask the Ask that shrubs be trimmed so they can’t M The connecting screws must be at least locks, you may want a security closet to management to have a licensed locksmith conceal burglars or attackers. 1/4 inch in diameter and go into solid store valuables. The closet should have re-key all exterior doors. Deadbolt locks When taking vacations or trips tell trusted metal stock, not screw posts. a solid hardwood door with hinges that should be installed on exterior doors. neighbors of your plans and where you have non-removable pins. A deadbolt Do not give a master key to management A heavy duty strike plate installed in place can be reached. Have newspapers and lock should be mounted on the door. because that defeats the purpose of the of a regular strike plate helps strengthen mail picked up. Stop other deliveries. locks. If necessary, keys in sealed envelopes door frames. A strike plate is the jamb fas- should be given to managers for emer- Residents living alone should only use tening that receives the bolt in the locking Touchpad deadbolt locks gency use only. their first initial with their last names on position. The heavy duty plate uses four Touchpad deadbolt locks allow fast, easy mail boxes and for telephone listings. to six 3-inch wood screws. These longer keyless entry into your home all the time — Secure all sliding glass doors and windows screws go through the frame into the jamb especially during bad weather and at night. regardless which floor you live on. Always Elevators are potential places for assault. making it harder for someone to split the Often these locks fit standard openings on lock your doors and windows when you Make sure the ground floor elevator lobby frame when kicking the door. A heavy duty new doors and can replace existing hard- leave home — even for is well-lighted and visible from the street strike plate will strengthen the door jamb ware already mounted on doors. a few minutes. or manager’s office. Don’t get in an and reinforce the lock. elevator with a person who looks You can create your own suspicious. security code for these touchpad deadbolt locks. The code can easily be changed and an alarm sounds on some touchpad locks if the wrong security code is entered.

Rim type locks use a horizontal or vertical When choosing a touch- deadbolt locking mechanism. These locks pad deadbolt lock, make are mounted on inside door surfaces and certain it has a one-inch provide good security if they are jimmy deadbolt throw and resistant. They can only be used on comes with a heavy duty strike plate. in-swinging doors. Remember that locks cannot make a home Proper installation requires that rim type burglary-proof, but they can discourage locks be attached to the door with forced entry.

7 12 +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ :KHQ$ZD\)URP+RPH 6HFXULQJ:LQGRZV Before leaving on a trip, follow these tips Turn your telephone ringer to low or off. The following measures to secure your Wooden dowel wedged to make your home appear occupied. They A loudly ringing unanswered phone is a windows will make it difficult for a burglar between sashes will discourage burglaries. sure sign that no one is home. Turn your to enter you home. answering machine down so no one can Ask a trusted neighbor to check your home Use screw to pin hear the messages. for anything unusual. They could occasion- both sashes together ally park a vehicle in your driveway or in Keep your garage door closed and locked front of your home and place garbage in so no one can see that your car is gone. your trash container. Have someone mow Tell a neighbor where you can be reached the lawn or shovel the sidewalks. Your mail in an emergency. Don’t let your travel plans and newspapers should be stopped or be widely known. picked up by a friend or neighbor. You can tell local law enforcement about Use automatic timers to turn lights on at your plans. dusk and off at your bedtime. Vary the lights to be turned on and occasionally Consider joining a neighborhood aware- have a radio or television turned on. ness program. (See the Block Watch Never leave lights, radio or television Clubs section on page 15.) on constantly. Always lock doors and windows when you Leave your drapes in the normal position. leave home — even for a few minutes. Have a neighbor close them at night and Double Hung Windows open them during the day. Double hung windows are easily jimmied or pried open. These windows can be made more secure by taking these simple, inexpensive precautions.

Drill a hole at a downward angle through the first sash and into, but not through, the second sash. Then pin the window by driving a nail into the hole. Pinning braces the window against prying. More holes Casement Windows can be drilled to pin the window open Casement windows provide good security. for ventilation. Make sure the cranking mechanism works A stick or wood dowel can be wedged properly and that there is no excess play between the top and bottom portions of between window and frame. To add more the window. The dowel can be fastened security, remove the operator handle and to the inside of the window with hook and store it in a convenient place. If someone loop material. This allows it to be shortened breaks the glass it will be difficult to reach for window ventilation. inside and crank open the window.

11 8 +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ +RZWR5HGXFH5HVLGHQWLDO%XUJODU\ 6HFXULQJ:LQGRZV 2SHUDWLRQ,GHQWLILFDWLRQ Sliding Glass Window Security Glazing Operation Identification is a program that Mark these possessions with your PIN: Sliding glass Burglary-resistant glass and other trans- reduces burglaries. It costs nothing to join M Electronic equipment windows are easily parent materials that are shatter-resistant the program. Here is how it works. forced open. and virtually unbreakable can be installed M Fishing rods and reels Mark all easily stolen property with your Use inexpensive to replace window and door glass. These Permanent Identification Number (PIN). M Outboard motors auxiliary locks. materials can give extra security against Your local law enforcement agency will forced entry. M Guns (See section on assign a PIN to you and keep a record of securing sliding it in their files. They will also provide an M Appliances glass doors on engraving tool to mark your property. The M Cameras page 4.) PIN is a nationally recognized number. All recovered property marked with it will M Watches be returned to you — even if it is recovered in another state. M Clocks You will get a form with your PIN to record M Lawn mowers and snow blowers 3DGORFNVDQG+DVSV all marked property. The form lets you M Bicycles record the PIN as well as descriptions should be made of case hardened Hasps should be of case hardened steel and serial numbers of marked items. M Golf clubs steel and have a heavy body construction. and have no screws or bolts visible when Keep it in a safe deposit box or other The shackle should be at least 3/8 inch in attached to doors. Case hardened screws, M Tools safe location. This information will help diameter and have a locking mechanism, which hold the hasp in place, should be you identify stolen property and make it or notch, on the heel and toe. The padlock as long as possible. Carriage bolts with more recoverable. should have a five-pin tumbler system or fender washers should be used to install Operation Identification equivalent locking device. hasps on metal doors. Take photographs or video is effective because PIN- tape household property marked property is harder File off to aid identification and for a burglar to sell. Marked any key recovery of lost or stolen property can be easily number property. traced and is solid evidence stamped of possession of stolen on the Put Operation Identification property. bottom stickers on windows near end of the front and back doors of Operation Identification padlock. This number should be recorded your home. Your local law is only successful if you elsewhere to eliminate the possibility of enforcement agency will mark your property and unauthorized . give you these stickers. display the window stickers.

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