Home Security Survey
 

Burglary and theft are crimes of opportunity.  A door that is easy to open, a dark house, or an open window or garage door, are seen as opportunities by criminals.  By thinking safety/security first, and taking some simple steps to secure your home, you can reduce these opportunities.  In doing so, you reduce the risk they present to your family and property.  Upon completion of this survey you will have made a detailed check list of your security needs.

 

Begin the survey by going to the end of your block and then walking toward your home.  Keep in mind that the criminal is looking for an opportunity to commit a crime, to take some of your property or get into your home.  Do you have tools, bikes, or other items sitting out?  Is your garage door open?  How about your windows and doors?  Is the gate to your backyard closed/locked?  Property maintained?  Newspapers gathering?  Look at your neighbor's property, do you provide more opportunities to criminals than your neighbor.  Does it look like you take good care of your property or will the criminal think you may be an easy target.

 

Survey Instructions:
   

When completing the security survey, follow the listed order when possible.  Keep in mind that there are a multitude of home floor plans and each home will be different.  The listed items correspond with the "OK" and "NI" (needs improvement).  If an item isn't included in the survey, write it in.  When the survey is completed use the items circled "NI" as a to-do list.   

 

Front Yard

• OK      NI                Street numbers easily visible from the street.

 

• OK      NI                 Bushes, shrubs, and trees pruned away from sidewalks, driveways, doors, windows, window wells, and gates.

 

• OK      NI                 Limited or direct access to yard.

 

• OK      NI                 Locks on gates, where applicable.

 

• OK      NI                 Lighting covers the entire front of the house and all hiding places.

 

Side Yards

• OK      NI                 Lighting adequately covers each entrance.

 

• OK      NI                 Bushes, shrubs, and trees are pruned etc.

 

• OK      NI                 Fence gate is secure.

 

Back Yard

• OK      NI                Lighting adequately covers each entrance.

 

• OK      NI                Bushes, shrubs and trees are pruned etc.

 

• OK      NI                Fence and gate is secure.

 

Detached Buildings

(Garages, storage sheds, barns etc.)

• OK      NI                Locks on all doors

 

• OK      NI                Locks on all windows

 

• OK      NI                Lighting on all entrances

 

Garage Door

• OK      NI                Keep garage door closed when not in use

 

• OK      NI                Garage door operating properly

 

• OK      NI                Change code on garage door opener periodically

 

• OK      NI                Garage has an internal lock    Side door to garage

 

• OK      NI                Door construction (solid core) (Metal clad)

 

• OK      NI                Dead bolt with minimum 1" throw

 

• OK      NI                Security strike plates

 

• OK      NI                Door jams secure

 

• OK      NI                Molding tight and secure

 

• OK      NI                Hinges (pins on inside or otherwise secured)

 

• OK      NI                Window (not recommended) – if have, covers, secured, etc.

 

Living Room

 

Front Door Entrance:

• OK      NI                Door Construction                       

                                                ( ) Solid core (hardwood 1 3/4" thickness)

                                                ( ) Metal clad

 

• OK      NI                Dead bolt lock with minimum 1" throw

 

• OK      NI                Security strike plate

 

• OK      NI                With a minimum of 4 screws - each 2 1/2" long

 

• OK      NI                Door frame secure

 

• OK      NI                Molding tight and secure

 

• OK      NI                Hinges (pins on inside or otherwise secure)

 

• OK      NI                Wide angle viewer (peep-hole) should be 190 degrees or better.

 

Double doors, all rooms all types:

• OK       NI               Stationary door secured with metal flush bolts having a minimum embedment of 5/8" into the head and threshold of the door frame.  Double doors shall also have an astragal (strong metallic cover slip) closing the space between double doors.

 

• OK      NI                High security (wrought iron) screen door

 

• OK      NI                Recommended for all exterior doors.

 

Windows:               ( ) Slider       ( ) Double Hung      ( ) Crank      ( ) Louver

• OK      NI                Original lock in good repair

 

• OK      NI                Auxiliary lock in place

                                                ( ) Pin lock

                                                ( ) Keyed lock (recommended)

 

• OK      NI                Anti-lift devises (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.)

 

Glazing materials:

• OK      NI               Applies to windows throughout residence

                                                ( ) Normal window glass

                                                ( ) tempered glass

                                                ( ) Plastic

                                                ( ) Lexan (Burglary resistant)

 

Kitchen / Utility Room

 

Sliding Glass Door:

• OK      NI                Original lock in good repair

 

• OK      NI                Anti-slide device

                                                ( ) Keyed dead bolt

                                                ( ) Charlie Bar

                                                ( ) Wood dowel

 

• OK      NI                Anti-lift devices (Screws in track above slider to prevent

lift out.)

 

Hinged Door:

• OK      NI                Door construction

                                                ( ) Solid core

                                                ( ) Metal clad

 

• OK      NI                Dead bolt lock with a minimum 1" throw

 

• OK      NI                Security strike plate

 

• OK      NI                Door frame secure

 

• OK      NI                Hinges (pins on inside or otherwise secured)

 

• OK      NI                Wide angle viewer (peep-hole) should be 190 degrees or better.

 

Double Doors, all rooms all types:

• OK      NI                See description listed above, applies to all types of double doors.

 

Windows:              ( ) Slider       ( ) Double Hung               ( ) Crank      ( ) Louver

• OK      NI                Original lock in good repair

 

• OK      NI                Auxiliary lock in place

                                                ( ) Pin lock

                                                ( ) Keyed lock (recommended)

 

• OK      NI                Anti-lift devises (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.)

 

Bedrooms/Den     (Make copies of this section for the bedrooms/den and other rooms)

 

Sliding Glass Door:

• OK      NI                Original lock in good repair

 

• OK      NI                Anti-slide device

( ) Keyed dead bolt

( ) Charlie Bar

( ) Wood dowel

 

• OK      NI                Anti-lift device (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.)

 

Hinged Door:

• OK      NI                Door construction

( ) Solid core

( ) Metal clad

 

• OK      NI                Dead bolt lock with a minimum 1" throw

 

• OK      NI                Security strike plate

 

• OK      NI                 Door frame secure

 

• OK      NI                 Hinges (pins on inside or otherwise secured)

 

• OK      NI                Wide angle door viewer (peep-hole) should be 190 degrees or better.

 

Double Door:

• OK      NI                See description listed above, applies to all types of double doors.

 

Windows:              ( ) Slider   ( ) Double Hung         ( ) Crank      ( ) Louver

• OK      NI                Original lock in good repair

 

• OK      NI                 Auxiliary lock in place

( ) Pin lock   ( ) Keyed lock (recommended)

 

• OK      NI                Anti-lift devises (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.)  

 

Bathrooms

 

Sliding Glass Door:

• OK       NI               Original lock in good repair

 

• OK       NI               Anti-slide device

                                                ( ) Keyed dead bolt

                                                ( ) Charlie Bar

                                                 ( ) Wood dowel

 

• OK       NI               Anti-lift device (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.)

 

Hinged Door:

• OK       NI               Door construction

                                                ( ) Solid core

                                                ( ) Metal clad

 

• OK       NI               Dead bolt lock with a minimum 1" throw

 

• OK       NI               Security strike plate

 

• OK       NI               Door frame secure

 

• OK       NI               Hinges (pins on inside or otherwise secured)

 

• OK       NI               Wide angle viewer (peep-hole) should be 190 degrees or better.

 

Windows:                        ( ) Slider   ( ) Double Hung         ( ) Crank   ( ) Louver

• OK       NI               Original lock in good repair

 

• OK       NI               Auxiliary lock in place     

( ) Pin lock   ( ) Keyed lock (recommended)

 

• OK       NI               Anti-lift devises (Screws in track above slider to prevent lift out.) 

 

Other/Miscellaneous

 

• OK       NI               Automatic timers for lights and radios

 

Burglary Alarm Systems: *Audible Alarms are preferable

• OK       NI               Monitored (Recommended)

                                                ( ) Locally (Recommended)

                                                ( ) Out of state

                                                 ( ) Not monitored

 

• OK       NI               Emergency numbers by each phone

 

• OK       NI               Grillwork/roller shields on high risk doors and windows

                                     

Operation Identification: (Click here for more information)

• OK       NI               ( ) Valuables marked with Drivers License Number?                              ( ) Inventory completed?

 

• OK       NI               Safe for valuables

 

Key control:

• OK       NI               Keep track of existing keys.  Have house re-keyed if they are lost or stolen.

 

• OK       NI               Joined or started a Neighborhood Watch?

 

Note: There are no guarantees, expressed or implied, with this inspection that will make your residence BURGLAR-PROOF, or that the recommendations will prevent any type of crime against property or persons within your residence.