Domestic Security

Crime Matters

Crime Prevention Bureau(CPB)



【 Publicity video •Prevent Burglary 】

    

Burglary - the costs

  • Financial: Each year millions of dollars worth of property is stolen during burglaries.

  • Psychological: You may feel violated because your home has been broken into. The loss of personal or sentimental property may cause distress.

  • Inconvenience: Time, effort and money will be required to repair the damage and replace lost property.

Simple precautions

  • Doors:
    • Have at least one good quality theft-resistant lock bought from a reputable company fitted to the front and back doors; and
    • For added protection, fit a high quality metal gate or grille, a door chain and a wide angle viewer. For front and back doors it is strongly advised that hollow wooden doors should not be used.
  • Door Drill:
    • Check all callers through your wide angle door viewer:
    • Ask the caller(s) to identify themselves;
    • Ensure the door chain is on before opening the door:
    • Open the door only when you're sure it's safe to do so; and
    • If in doubt, do not open the door.
  • Windows:
    • Windows are one of the main targets for burglars during break-ins.
    • Fit quality windows with quality frames.
    • Fit quality locks that are suitable for your windows;
    • A criminal can break a window and open it from the inside. If a window lock is fitted, this will help prevent this from happening;
    • If you want to leave your windows open, you should install good quality window grilles; Ensure that the window grilles are securely fastened to the wall.
    • Never leave a window open when you are not at home.
  • Balconies:
    • Make sure that the balcony door cannot be opened from the outside;
    • Quality locks are available for sliding balcony doors and are easy to install.
    • Install a good quality protective balcony grille.
  • Personal Property:
    • Ideally, valuable items of property or large amounts of cash should not be kept in the home. If you insist on doing so, then you should consider using a high quality safe (secured to the wall using high quality internal bolts) to store these items;
    • Consider marking your valuable property using permanent etching, invisible UV pen, or other available means. Use a Personal Identification Number to mark and help identify property as belonging to you;
    • Record important details of your valuable property and keep original receipts if possible. Take photographs of the property from different angles. For smaller items place a ruler alongside to indicate its size;
    • The above information may assist Police in recovering your property in the unlikely event it is stolen, and may also help you to claim on your insurance. Click here for a sample property inventory form; and
    • Keep your completed property inventory form, receipts and photographs in a safe place, preferably at a second location away from your home.