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• Creating an Inventory of Your Personal Possessions
• Intermatic Home Protection and Controls Make Homes Less Vulnerable to Break-Ins
• Make your Home Hard for Burglars to Target
• State of the Nation

Burglary Prevention Council and Intermatic Educate Consumers

We’ve all been told that we need to conduct an inventory of our personal possessions. And most of us put it off. Where would you start? What’s valuable, and what isn’t? How would you guess the worth of your possessions, and just how thorough do you need to be?

“A household inventory can provide a record for insurance purposes and owner identification in case of theft or loss,” says Art Noparstak, a home protection and security expert with Intermatic Inc. and a board member of the non-profit Burglary Prevention Council. “It can not only help determine the amount of insurance needed to adequately cover possessions, but ensures stress will be greatly reduced if you’ve taken the time to conduct an adequate inventory long before disaster strikes.”

Several methods can be utilized when developing a room-by-room household inventory, including audio recording, videotaping, photographing, slides and/or a written inventory. Start at one point and go around the room. Don’t forget to open closet doors and drawers, and check the attic, basement, garage, and automobile trunks.

To make possessions less attractive, more easily identifiable and harder to sell try these steps:

• Engrave your driver’s license number on valuables. Thieves find it harder to sell marked merchandise. You can borrow an engraving pen free of charge from many police apartments.
• Include the item, make, model, color, size, style, features, unique characteristics and serial number in the inventory.
• All items should be photographed or video taped, and the receipt filed with your log. Attach photographs and appraisals for all items unable to be engraved (i.e. - jewelry).
• Have family members pose with valuables and store the photos in a safety deposit box.
• Don’t flaunt your belongings. Leave burglars guessing at what they will find and where to find them. The more valuables inside your home, the more persistent burglars tend to be.
• Display a sticker, which tells would-be burglars that your property has been marked.
• Make two copies of your inventory, keeping one copy in your home and another in a safe location outside of the home. It will do you no good if the burglar inadvertently takes the inventory along with him.
• Update and add to your written household inventory by utilizing a computer software program.
• Be sure you have the right coverage. You may need to purchase additional coverage to protect special items like expensive jewelry or rare antiques.

You don’t have to record every last item in your house. The most obvious priority items on your list will be such possessions as jewelry; fine China, crystal and tableware; heirlooms; artwork; and electronics. Specific possessions you may want to consider marking include:

• Adding machines
• Answering machines
• Bicycles
• Binoculars
• Cameras
• Car phones
• Car tape decks
• Computers/Printers
• DVDs
• Clothing
• Exercise machines
• Fishing rods, reels
• Food processor
• Gas grill
• Golf clubs
• Guns
• High-quality light fixtures
• Lawn mowers
• Mag wheels
• Microwaves
• Musical instruments
• Outboard motors
• Radio
• Stereo equipment
• Tape recorders
• Televisions
• Tools (hand/power)
• Typewriters
• Vacuum cleaners
• VCRs
• Watches

“With a burglary occurring nearly every 15 seconds in the Unites States, a careful record of your possessions will help your chances of retrieving your valuables or at least be compensated for their loss,” says Noparstak. “Your personal records are, in fact, your most valuable possession of all.”

A Do-It-Yourself Approach to Home Security

Many homeowners are unaware of the simple things they can do to make their home less prone to break-ins and a safer place to live.

“Burglars aim for the easiest targets. Almost half of all residential burglaries result from thieves gaining entry through unlocked doors or unlocked windows,” says Art Noparstak, a home protection and controls expert with Intermatic Inc. and a board member of the non-profit Burglary Prevention Council. “Most burglars will give up and move on if they can’t get in within a few minutes.”

From basic control of one or two light switches to comprehensive home management, Intermatic Home Protection and Control devices include everything to burglarproof a home.

For people looking to have their home function on separate security systems, try Intermatic’s wireless burglar alarms, including motion sensors, wireless door alarm, window alarm, programmable remotes and a personal alarm. Each product is convenient to use and provides personal safety to homeowners and their families. The reliable, do-it yourself products are reasonably priced, energy efficient, and best of all, discourage intruders. All wireless alarms emit a piercing 90-110-decibel alarm.

A favorite among homeowners and apartment dwellers is the Wireless Window Alarm (SP440B). Compact enough to mount on any window but loud enough to deter any intruder when the contact point is broken. Includes an on/off switch to easily activate and deactivate the alarm as well as a window sticker to make any burglar think twice.

To portray a more lived-in look, Intermatic manufactures digital, in-wall, lamp and appliances and air conditioner in-door timers as well as electromechanical and digital outdoor timers. All timers are easy to set and include a variety of features.

The new Heavy Duty Plug-In Lamp & Appliance Timer with Self-Adjusting Feature (DT27C) automatically follows the daily changes in sunset and sunrise times. The timer includes up to 14-on/off programs and up to 112-on/off settings per week for indoor use. The optional random feature allows lights, radio or television to go on and off and different times of the day and night. The timer also includes battery back-up; a large, easy-to-read display; 3 prong grounded plug and receptacle, manual override feature and to the minute accuracy. To ensure your property is well lit on the outside, try the Outdoor Electromechanical Timer (HB35R). In addition to 2-on/off settings per day and a manual override switch, the product features a weatherproof cover, grounded cord and receptacle.

“The importance of home security cannot be overstated. Intermatic’s offerings encompass proven devices in the home security industry combined with the latest technology,” says Noparstak. “Intermatic products offer reliability, convenience, safety and security at a valuable price.”

For consumers looking for a security system that gives them great flexibility and control, try the new Intermatic HomeSettings made with Zensys’ Z-Wave technology. It is the first program of home controls to have a reasonable price point and ease-of-use among “non-tech” savvy households. HomeSettings products are integrated into one system, so you can control lights and appliances from a single remote control. Best of all, a consumer can go into their local home center and with a budget of less than $100 begin to outfit their home with a home control system.

Thieves want to do their work where no one can see them. Deter them by making sure your house is well lit, especially any points of entry. You don’t have to leave lights on all night; invest in Intermatic HomeSettings Plug-in Lamp Module (HA03), with on/off/dim switch, and the In-Wall Dimmer Switch (HA06). In addition to switching lamps on and off at different times of the day, these products allow you to dim selected lights to create different moods.

Outdoor lighting can provide valuable protection for the homeowner against intruders and can increase safety, while accenting the landscape. Eliminate dark spots and shadows around the home, reducing hiding places for intruders. The weather resistance Intermatic Outdoor Module (HA04) allows you to control the lighting surrounding your home. A HomeSettings system requires on remote controller. The Master Remote Controller (HA07), features 28 timed events, 8 dimming levels and controls up to 192 devices in and around the home. It also offers a large LED display to show all functions, 12 channels for control of individual devices or groups of devices and an “All On/All Off” feature to quickly turn on all lights controlled with dimming modules. The Handy Remote Controller (HA09) offers 6 channels for control of individual devices or groups of devices. It controls up to 96 devices in and around the home and features 8 dimming levels. Either remote controller can be duplicated and is interoperable with all Z-Wave enable products.

Additional ways to minimize the risk of becoming a victim is by eliminating any vulnerable points of entry and taking some of the following security measures:

1. Keep all doors, windows, pet entrances and garage doors closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot week locks that may easily be forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with at least a 1” throw and reinforced strike plate with 3” screws. All windows should have window locks.
2. Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
3. When service or delivery people come to your door, ask for an ID. If you’re still not sure, call the police first and report the stranger. Call the company to confirm.
4. Cut up cartons for TVs, computers, stereos, etc. Tie the pieces together so a burglar going through the garbage does not see any of your highly valuable household items.
5. Do not leave ladders or tools lying around outside. They can assist a possible intruder.
6. Install a wide-angle door viewer (peephole) in your front door so you can see who is at the door.
7. Organize a neighborhood watch program. Neighbors working together make one of the best crime-fighting teams around.
8. Make a home inventory list, complete with photos or video. Engrave items with your ID to help the police identify your belongings. Store this list in a safety deposit box.
9. Have a security plan in place and talk about it with your family and neighbors.
10. Write down the emergency telephone numbers or the local police and county sheriff’s office and the numbers of several nearby neighbors. Keep the numbers near your telephone(s).
11. Don’t put your name and residential address on your key ring. If you happen to lose it, a dishonest person could gain entry to your home. Also, never place your house and car key on the same ring.
12. Install and test a burglar alarm system.
13. Post signs in conspicuous locations that clearly indicate that the premises are protected by a burglar alarm.

Burglary Prevention Council and Intermatic Partner to Help Consumers Protect Themselves from Intruders

Each year in the U.S., there are more than six million home burglaries. The majority of burglaries occur in July when millions of Americans are on vacation and away from home. According to the National Travel Industry Association of America, nearly 326 million leisure trips are predicted this summer. How do you take those simple steps to make your home more difficult to enter and less enticing to would-be burglars?

“To avoid becoming a burglary victim, it is important to first gain an understanding of the most common type of thief,” says Art Noparstak, a home protection and security expert with Intermatic Inc. and a board member of the non-profit Burglary Prevention Council (BPC). “Amateur burglars make-up 70 percent of known intruders. He or she is the opportunist who looks for easy targets. They usually break in on the spur of the moment and go after low risk items such as petty cash boxes.”

Second, it’s time to think like a burglar and survey the perimeters of our home. If you locked yourself out, could you easily pry open the door or climb in through an unlocked window? Could you easily open the door by slipping a credit card between the door and lock? If you answered yes, then a burglar could answer yes also. Carefully observe any items or objects in your yard that could offer assistance to a would-be thief.

Are their any items lying around your home that could actually entice a burglar? Most burglars don’t carry tools with them. They use what is available: garden shovels, lightly secured tool sheds, sports equipment and ladders.

Here are a few other things the not-for-profit Burglary Prevention Council (BPC) recommends when evaluating your home:

• Is your door metal or solid wood construction? Use high-quality Grade- 1 or Grade- 2 lock on exterior doors to resist twisting, prying and lock-picking attempts. A quality deadbolt lock will have a beveled casing to inhibit the use of channel-lock pliers used to shear off lock cylinder pins. A quality door knob-in-lock set will have a ‘dead latch’ mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card.
• Are all doorframes strong enough and tight enough to prevent forcing or spreading? Try a heavy-duty, four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden doorframe. Also, all exterior hinge doors should be of solid core (1 ¾” thick if made of wood) or metal clad.
• Can the lock mechanism be reached through a mail slot, delivery port or pet entrance doorway? Locks should be at least 40 inches from door glass, unless the door glass is reinforced. If it’s not, a double cylinder deadlock is recommended.
• Do doorways and windows have adequate locks? Deadbolt locks can help Prevent crimes. Deadbolts are commonly installed four inches above the knob-and-key lock on a door. A one-inch throw bolt on these locks is longer than knob-and-key models, which provides more holding power against a burglar who might try to pry the edge of a door away from the jamb.
• Are exterior areas of doors and windows free from concealing structures or landscaping and lighted with a 40-watt bulb? Good lighting is one of the greatest deterrents to a thief. Burglars love poorly lit homes and inadequately lit streets, so replace burned-out bulbs quickly. Consider installing fixtures or lawn lights in dark areas. Floodlights mounted on the corner of your home can light the walls of the house in both directions. Such lights are cost-effective, easy to install and are highly effective in reducing break-ins.
• Do you use timers to give your home a “lived-in” look? Making your residence appear occupied will help deter criminals. Always create the illusion you are home by using timers on inside and outside lights, radios and TV’s. Set light timers to turn on and off and random times of the day and night.
• Is your name posted on your house? While it’s important to allow police, firemen and paramedics to easily identify your home, a burglar can call directory assistance to get your telephone number and call your home while in front of your house to confirm that you are away. Never post your name on you house or mailbox. Lastly, government statistics show that around 60 percent of burglaries carried out on homes fitted with burglar alarms are unsuccessful. There are several types of burglar alarm systems, but the two most popular are Do-It-Yourself (DIY) and professionally monitored.

“The best way to go these days is a DIY system because they are easy to install and cost-effective,” says Noparstak. “Wireless home and personal burglar alarms, similar to the ones manufactured by Intermatic, include motion sensors, wireless door alarm, window alarm, programmable remotes and a personal alarm. Products range in price from $5.00 - $25.00.”

Summer Most Common Period for Burglaries; Vacationing Residents Urged to Protect Homes While Away

It is a homeowner's worst nightmare. Coming home from a relaxing vacation only to find their property burglarized. It can happen to anyone - that is why it is essential to take the proper precautions before heading off on summer travels.

Most communities will experience a 10 to 18 percent increase in home burglaries during June, July and August. The greatest number, according to FBI statistics, tend to occur in August, with July a close second. The stage is set again this summer with millions planning trips throughout these few months.

Statistics Tell the Story

In the United States today, burglars enter a house, apartment or condominium every 15 seconds. Two out of every three burglaries are residential in nature and 60 percent of residential burglaries occur during the daytime. In 1999, an estimated 2,099,739 burglaries were reported with losses totaling $3.1 billion.

"A significant number of break-ins could be prevented with simple precautions such as canceling a newspaper delivery, placing timers on lamps and having a neighbor take in the mail," says Lauren Russ, executive director of the Burglary Prevention Council (BPC), a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public on crime prevention measures.

Russ knows how criminals think. "The average burglar has only two options for entering a residence: doors and windows. Approximately 30 percent of all break-ins are by unlawful entry, which means no force. That statistic tells me homeowners continue to make a burglar's job too easy by leaving doors and windows unlocked." Especially during the summer, taking a quick walk around the block could end up costing thousands of dollars. "Whether you leave your home for five minutes or five weeks, recognize that it's vulnerable whenever it's unoccupied," says Russ.

The Burglary Prevention Council recommends that doors and windows be fashionably secured with ornate, yet sturdy door handles and deadbolt locks. Avoid leaving gaps around doorframes, and position hinges on the inside of the door so a thief with a screwdriver will be unable to remove the entire door. Sliding doors can easily be lifted off their tracks. Place a metal or solid wood rod such as a broomstick on the sliding door inside track to prevent a burglar from forcing the door open.

Average dollar loss per burglary in 1999 was $1,441, not including the cost of fixing broken doors and windows. That figure, according to Russ, doesn't even begin to account for the psychological damage experienced by a burglary victim.

For More Information

Tips and approaches to home security are described in detail in the Burglary Prevention Council's new booklet, "Safe & Secure." The booklet also provides valuable information on evaluating your home's current safety measures, assessing your home's entry points, what attracts and discourages burglars and how to implement a cost-effective security program. The guide contains a vacation checklist to help protect your home, apartment or condominium while away.

The free booklet can be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope plus $1 for postage and handling to: