TEN STEPS TO BREAK INTO A HOUSE & entry via the roof

TEN STEPS TO BREAK INTO A HOUSE

From http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/10-ways-to-break-into-a-house.htm

“When we think of a burglar, we think of a stereotypical ski-masked man dressed head to toe in black, crouched down, creeping in the dead of night, carrying a professional break-in artist's ideal toolkit. As common a culprit, however, is the average-looking person dressed in average street clothes on your average workday, entering via an unlocked door or a brick-induced hole in a glass door.”

All the points mentioned below are discussed in much more detail on the mentioned website; although could be seen as from the burglar's point of view. Below I only gave one thought after each dot:

• Find the ideal target (ideal targets are homes with indications no one will return soon)
• Remain inconspicuous (first, second and third line of defence)
• Find a good opening (thieves think nothing of walking the circumference of your home, trying each door, window and cellar opening until one relents to prying hands)
• Find a place to hide (tall, dense greenery near home allows burglars to remain hidden for as long as it takes to focus on opening windows or doors despite, or perhaps because of, the sense of security offered by the lights)
• Wait for the holidays (to prevent, move Christmas presents from window views and haul those empties to a public trash receptacle)
• Innovate (ruses are used to gain entry into homes promising big pay-outs e.g. posing as innocent service providers)
• Be camera-shy (burglars look for surveillance devices)
• Be prepared (burglars note patterns e.g. cars; routes; how many people etc)
• Surf the ‘Net (staying ahead of those trying to catch you)
• Embrace new technology (e.g. a teen boasting about a family vacation on Facebook)

ENTRY THROUGH WALLS AND CEILINGS

From http://thecrimepreventionwebsite.com/security-inside-the-home/686/entry-through-walls-and-ceilings/

As unlikely as you may think this to be there are several thousand burglaries each year where entry into a dwelling has been gained by breaking through a wall or coming down through a ceiling or loft hatch.  The following information covers the most common occurrences.

The following are discussed in detail on the mentioned site, with suggestions as to what can be done to prevent being compromised:

• Wall breakthroughs
• Ceiling or Loft Hatch breakthroughs

Stay safe

Annette

HELP I’M BEING FOLLOWED!

BY FOOT:

“One of the creepiest and scariest experiences ever is the sense that someone is following you. A sixth sense can cause you to become alert about the foot fall, snapping twigs or other sounds that seem to keep occurring behind you, especially when it seems that nobody else is about. To avoid attack, use your common sense, quick wits and a few good tried and true methods as outlined here. The sooner you react in a self-protective manner, the better.

STEPS (in short; more detail on the mentioned website)

1. Stay alert at all times.
2. Determine whether you are actually being followed.
3. Use positive self-talk.
4. Quickly assess the situation to see if it’s possible to get yourself out of harm’s way.
5. If the previous step isn’t going to prove possible, you’ll need to find other fast solutions.
6. Take action.
7. Continue yelling.
8. Run or get away.
9. If you have a cell phone, call the police at the same time as continuing to walk to somewhere safe.
10. Take your keys out of your purse or pocket.
11. If you’ve done everything and the person is still following you, it probably means that the person plans on harming you.
12. Don’t go straight home.

TIPS

Do not panic. It won’t be any help. Stay alert and aware.

Do things to draw attention to yourself: Yelling is recommended if other people might be around, scream if nothing else works.

If you’re out by yourself a lot, it’s a good idea to carry a personal alarm, especially if you’re a female, you’re elderly, you’re frail or you’re easily fearful. It might even be a good idea to learn self defense.

If you’ve been followed before, in the event of a recursion, tell someone about it afterwards and find ways to prevent it from happening again.

Run/jog toward where there could be help if possible (not into a dark area, alone unless you know the terrain perfectly); loudly shout warnings clearly (“Fire!” for example) to make people curious to come out to see; immediately report to the authorities about: who, where, when, what, how…”

For more, see http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-an-Attack-if-You-Think-You’re-Being-Followed.

BY CAR:

“It’s unlikely that most of us will be followed by a car, but chances are you’ve had a sneaking suspicion before that you’d like to put to rest. To regain your peace of mind, security and investigations expert Brandon Gregg offers up a few tricks to both detect if you’re being followed and what you can do about it. Here’s the gist:

• Make four right or left turns. It’s unlikely anyone will also be traveling in a complete circle, so if the car is still behind you after 360 degrees you can be fairly certain you are being followed.
• If you’re on the highway, get off and then back on. Again, this is something most people will not do when driving so you’re likely being followed if a car is still behind you when you get back on the highway. If this happens, pull over to the side of the highway. If you’re being followed by a surveillance team, they will not pull over because it’s too obvious. They may, however, wait at the next exit so if you want to lose them don’t choose the next exit or the exit that you usually take.

 If any of these techniques lead you to believe you’re being followed, call the police. Police officers who also posted answers to this question agree that phoning the police is among the first things you should do if you believe you are, indeed, being followed.”

For more see http://lifehacker.com/5887204/what-you-should-do-if-you-suspect-a-car-is-following-you and http://www.quora.com/Security/What-should-you-do-if-you-suspect-a-car-has-been-following-you.

The above was derived from various sources. If something suspicious is noticed (LS1), also report it to the CPF (LS1) JOC at 0861 571 911. Or – get direct; get a radio: It can safe precious time in a crisis situation.

Also see the article below by ADT.

Stay safe

Annette