Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Residential Burglary

Outside Your Home

The exterior of your home should be free from offering concealment to a burglar. A house with doors and windows in full view is a psychological deterrent. Intruder's are forced to work in the open where the risks of detection are higher. Here's how you can discourage a burglar:

• Keep shrubs trimmed away from windows and doors.
• Maintain adequate exterior lighting, especially on vulnerable access points to your home. (Some power companies offer a bright security lamp and post for a nominal monthly charge.)
• Don't leave ladders around the exterior of your house where they can be used by a burglar to gain entrance.
• Don't leave valuables such as lawn mowers, bicycles or tools in the yard or in an open or unlocked garage or shed (your tools could be used to break into your home).
• Keep your garage door closed and locked at all times. The door leading from the garage to the house is a favorite access point for a burglar.
• Display your house number conspicuously and have it well illuminated. This will aid the law enforcement, medical or other emergency personnel in finding your home.
• Never leave notes that can inform a burglar that your house is unoccupied.
• Never leave newspapers, mail, or other deliveries which might also inform a potential burglar that your house is unoccupied.

Closing Your Doors to Burglars

Hinge Doors - The most common door type used in homes and apartments is the hinge door. It is important that all exterior doors be of solid wood core construction or steel clad construction. Avoid light gauge aluminum.

Hollow core or composition board doors are not effective deterrents because they can be easily battered or bored. It is defeating the purpose of a good deadbolt lock to mount it on a hollow or foam core door.

If door hinges are exposed on the exterior of the door, non-removable hinge pins should be used. To prevent removal of a door that has removable hinge pins, you can employ a headless screw or nail. Drill two holes opposite each other in the center of both leaves of the hinge. Insert a headless screw or nail into the leaf on the door frame side. Allow screw or nail to protrude ½”. When the door is closed, the screw will engage the other hinge leaf.

Drill a hole in the center of the hinge and insert a headless screw or nail in the door frame side allowing it to protrude approximately one half inch with screws at least 2 inches long.

Inspect door frames and repair any splitting or rotting. Wooden frames should be at least 2" thick. If a hollow steel frame is used, the residual air space behind the frame should be filled with a crush resistant material such as cement or grout.

This will prevent an intruder from wedging a crowbar between the door and frame to free the door. You can strengthen the frame by removing some of the short screws in the door hinges and replace them longer screws. This can also be done on the lock strike plate.

A solid wood core front door should have a wide angle 180 degree viewer (or larger) installed for easy viewing of visitors without opening the door. It is inexpensive and easy to install.

Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors are particularly easy targets for the burglar. The doors can be easily removed from their tracks unless they are properly secured. To prevent removal of doors, install a 1-1/4” pan head (large head) sheet metal screw in upper track so the frame just clears the head of the screw. To secure a door in position, you can drill a hole at a downward angle in the overlapping frames at the top center of the door, and insert a steel pin or heavy nail. Be careful not to crack the glass.

There are different types of sliding glass door auxiliary locks that can be used. Key operated locks usually offer the best security - especially those using a deadbolt or pin mechanism.

A metal bar (Charlie Bar) that attaches to the side frame and fits across the middle of the sliding door, running parallel to the floor, can be used to prevent opening of the door.

Jalousie Doors

Jalousie doors are a security risk because a burglar can easily enter through them. The best solution is to replace them with solid wood core doors. If this is not feasible, the door can be covered on the inside with heavy gauge expanded metal mesh, bolted to the door with carriage bolts.

Double Doors

The inactive door can be adequately secured by installing cane bolts ½" diameter x 12" long on both the top and bottom of the door.

Lock the front door when working in the back yard and vise versa! Always keep your doors locked while inside your house.

Garage Doors

A good, case hardened padlock, on which both ends of the shackle engage, should secure your garage door.

If the garage door rolls on a track, a hole should be drilled in the track so the padlock can be utilized as a brace. Steel pins can also be used.

Electronic garage door openers with automatic locking devices offer good security.

The door leading from the garage to the house should be a solid wood core door and should have a good quality deadbolt lock. This door is another favored access point for burglars because it offers concealment and access to your tools.

Keep your garage, and any other doors leading from the garage to the house, closed and locked - whether you are home or not.