Discourage burglars from practicing their trade

What's the best way to fight a burglar?

Think like one.

The problem is, most of us are too honest to do that well. But adopting a temporarily devious mind-set can be a useful way to protect a home from burglars.

Sometimes, "we're so comfortable in our environment that we overlook something that other people -- i.e. criminals -- would target and take advantage of," says Kathy Perkins, a crime prevention specialist with the Metropolitan Police Department's northwest command.

For example, Perkins recently met with a Neighborhood Watch block captain who'd been looking at an open ladder in a neighbor's yard for a long time. It never occurred to him the ladder was something a burglar could use during a break-in, Perkins says.

"Unless you have reason to think of something in a different way, you don't," she says.

It's just such a change in perspective that Las Vegas police can offer through their program of on-site visits to Las Vegans' homes. During a visit, a crime prevention specialist will offer customized recommendations that can help a resident make his or her home more burglar-proof.

Perkins notes that the measures she discusses with homeowners apply to renters, too. "I find a lot of people who rent, if they contact the owner and say they're trying to protect the owner's house and property and want better locks or more lighting, they're normally receptive."

When it comes to thinking like a burglar, Perkins says that, except for their malicious intent, they don't necessarily think alike.

"The thing about burglars is they don't all come with the same motive or the same level of expertise or the same desire," she says. "They all want to benefit from what they're doing, but their decisions about what benefits them might be different.

"You may have a kid ditching school and looking for beer and video games, versus really experienced burglars looking for high-end jewelry."

But, in either case, the goal is to make a house and property unappealing to any prospective burglar.

A good first step is to simply walk to the front of the house. Then, take a walk around the yard. And, as you do, think about the things that might make your home more appealing to a burglar than somebody else's.

And, finally, Perkins says, "take those reasons away."

Among the most common problems Perkins sees during on-site visits are "exterior perimeter lighting and the lack thereof, padlocks and the lack thereof," and landscaping features that inadvertently work to burglars' benefit.

Burglars hate light because it makes them "feel more exposed," Perkins says. A homeowner can deter burglars by installing yard and exterior house lighting.

A variety of yard lighting is available, from wired lights to wireless solar cell-equipped lights. Also available are lights that automatically turn on at dusk and off at dawn, and lights with motion detectors.

The important thing, Perkins notes, is to "have light in well-placed locations." Lights shouldn't be obscured by trees or bushes, should be tamper proof, and should illuminate all of a yard.

Inside a house, timers or sensors can turn lamps or lighting on at dark, making a house appear occupied, Perkins says. In contrast, when a burglar sees a dark home, he assumes nobody is inside.

Think, also, about landscaping. Bushes or trees can offer cover for burglars, and grass lawns can allow a burglar to approach a home without making a sound.

"This is a desert. Why don't we use more of the type of plants and landscaping that grow naturally to our environment that may cause some discomfort -- prickly things, cactus, thorny things?" Perkins asks.

Also think about how -- Windows? Doors? A garage door? -- a burglar might gain access to your home and property. For example, Perkins says she often finds gates that aren't equipped with padlocks.

"Some people say, 'I can't padlock the gate because we have a pool or yard service,' " she says. "My thought on that is, know when the service call is going to be made and unlock that gate that particular time of day if needed."

And, while all houses have doors and windows, they can be fortified to make access more difficult for a burglar.

Burglars like to work quickly, Perkins says, because the more time they spend at a home, the greater their chance of being caught.

"The rule of thumb is to have two locking devices per door," Perkins says.

Leaving the garage door open or cracked for an extended period offers easy access for a thief. So can forgetting to lock the access door that leads from the yard into the garage, Perkins says. Similarly, it's always a good idea to keep the door between the garage and the house locked.

And here's an access point few consider: Doggie doors.

"Dogs come in all sizes, just like burglars," Perkins says. "Depending on the size of the dog and the door placement, if you have a door that's large enough for a small child to get into -- or a small adult -- it's just like having another door in your house."

Windows are another entry point for burglars. Perkins says laminate coatings applied to windows can help to make windows intruder-resistant.

"The glass will actually splinter and spider, but the idea is the glass won't be pushed through so entry will not happen," she says. "Damage will happen, but entry does not."

Window locks can prevent windows from being forced open by an intruder. Even a dowel rod placed in the track of a sliding window can make it more difficult for a thief to enter.

Many such measures can be installed easily by do-it-yourselfers. Home improvement stores have "a whole buffet of offerings when it comes to home security," Perkins says. "You can buy (items) off the shelf and apply it to the house with very minimal effort or cost."

Of course, no crime prevention measure will work if it's not used. For example, Perkins says, "this time of year, we kind of enjoy this period of fresh air and leave our doors and windows open. But don't leave windows open in parts of the house you're not in. Don't fall asleep upstairs when windows downstairs are open."

Also think about what a burglar might do once he enters your house and what items -- jewelry and guns, for example -- he'd be most apt to want.

"One thing we encourage people to do is take a look at the house," Perkins says. "What is it that you own that means the most to you, either value-wise or sentiment-wise?"

Some people are less worried about the computer or TV than "Grandma's necklace or the watch Grandpa gave them or pictures of deceased family members," Perkins notes. "So what you do is protect the things that really matter in your life."

A safe bolted into the floor can be a good place to keep not only firearms but jewelry and family heirlooms. And, Perkins notes, given the risk of identity theft, it's also not wise to leave important papers "in an obvious place."

Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of valuables in your home can help police offices do their work after a burglary. Be sure, Perkins says, that the inventory includes a description of the item, its model and serial number, the purchase date and the amount paid for it.

Placing identifying marks on valuables also may help in their recovery. For example, Perkins says, "some jewelry stores can even laser-etch high-end jewelry with identifying marks."

Residents often ask about the value of such crime deterrents as dogs and alarm systems, Perkins says. And, while both can be part of a home's security portfolio, neither is foolproof.

Some burglars "are not deterred by dogs," Perkins says, although dogs do tend to be good at alerting others to a stranger's presence.

And, when considering a monitored alarm system, Perkins advises doing homework beforehand to see what is and isn't offered and then asking for customer referrals.

Sometimes, she says, "people buy an alarm thinking they're going to get a certain level of response and they don't, and sometimes you don't know until the alarm goes off."

Actually, the best burglar deterrent of all are alert neighbors who make it a point to look out for one another. That can be done through a formal Neighborhood Watch program or just informally.

But whatever else a resident chooses to do, "I'd encourage people not to live anonymously in their neighborhoods," Perkins says. "Know them and interact with them."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.