Localities Offer Homeowners Security and Fire-Prevention Evaluations

As a first-time homeowner, Brandon Durflinger requested a security visit from Fairfax County police to ensure that he was doing everything possible to protect his home in the Falls Church area.

The officer's recommendations were simple: Durflinger was advised to enhance the lighting, especially near entries, and to use motion sensors that turn on the lights if an intruder approaches. He should put double-key deadbolt locks on any doors that have glass. He should use long wood screws to reinforce deadbolts where the strike plate attaches to the door frame. And police advised him to install latches on windows that allow them to be opened only partway, enough to allow air in, but to keep people out.

"In general, time is on your side," Durflinger said. "The longer it takes for someone to enter your home, the safer you are."

Nationwide, burglaries were the only type of property crime that increased in 2008 compared with 2007, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Burglaries were up 1.3 percent, the FBI reported last month.

All Washington area jurisdictions provide free security inspections and fire-safety checks, or at least checklists of simple and low-cost improvements that residents can make.

Upon request, the Fairfax County Police Department will send an officer to inspect a home and make recommendations. Courtney Thibault, a county police officer, said, "Risks stem from combinations of factors, such as homeowners not realizing how criminals seek to gain access, coupled with poor locks, or even leaving windows or doors open or unlocked." She said security goals should include keeping uninvited people off of one's property and making a break-in as time-consuming and visible as possible.

She also suggested alerting neighbors about travel plans, letting them know about pet sitters or caretakers, and placing an emergency contact list on the refrigerator for reference by police or firefighters.

Heather Hurlock, a crime prevention specialist with the Arlington County Police Department, typically includes a discussion of local crime trends in her visits.

If the homeowner has already reported a crime at the home, Hurlock said, she tailors her approach because a victim probably feels violated and needs reassurance. If there was a break-in, for example, Hurlock addresses the specifics of securing and protecting the area against another entry. If there was a car theft, she determines what was in the vehicle, how burglars gained entry and whether the burglar got access to house keys, which could lead to a break-in.

Hurlock said she checks to see that any weapons in a home are secured. And she advises gun owners on ways to protect children, caregivers or elderly residents from their misuse.

When she encounters something she considers ill-advised -- such as window security bars that could block escape -- she advises homeowners of possible consequences. But she said she cannot insist on their removal from a private residence. If it's a rental or condo apartment, building codes could require their removal.

Some jurisdictions offer programs that help residents take inventory of their valuables, noting the brand, model and serial number. Some will help residents engrave belongings with their names or other identifying information.