Comal County Sheriff's Office Homeowners Safety and Security Inspection
As a reminder, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office encourages all homeowners to make an appointment for a homeowners safety and security inspection in order for us to assist you in going over those areas in and around your home that make it a soft target for burglars, thus making your home vulnerable to burglary.
The following tips may help the homeowner start target hardening their home today.
1. We encourage forming neighborhood watch groups that will focus in on neighbors keeping an eye out for each other’s property.
2. Use Social Media and available free safety and security downloadable apps that help neighbors stay in the know of suspicious activity and crimes in neighborhoods.
3. Home Security Alarm Systems, Security Cameras, and Motion-Activated LED Lights installed beyond a burglars reach with warnings make great deterrents and reinforces the security of homes and property.
4. Test your Alarm System as recommended by your alarm company provider.
5. Help one another and the Comal County Sheriff’s Office by registering those cameras in the “C.A.P.T.U.R.E.” Program that may help capture suspicious activity within the subdivision. Please review the details about the program on the Comal County Sheriff’s Office Website.
6. Solid Core and Metal Doors with Metal Anti-Kick Upgrades provide added security to a home.
7. Doors with glass that can be broken out and are within a 40 inch arms reach of a single cylinder deadbolt that can be unlocked from a locked position weakens the safety and security of a home.
8. Common glass windows that are within a 40 inch arms reach of a single cylinder deadbolt that can be unlocked from a locked position contribute weakness to the safety and security of a home.
9. Doors and Windows as described under comments 6 and 7 may have an option of changing out a single cylinder deadbolt to a keyed double cylinder deadbolt as per the County or City Fire Marshall’s fire code and approval for added security.
10. Install peepholes on solid core exterior doors.
11. 3M Window film sold on the market provides added strength to glass windows, blocks out the sun, but allows the homeowner to enjoy the beauty and yard while keeping unwanted persons from looking inside the home.
12. Single and Double Cylinder Deadbolts that securely lock-in place with a 1-inch throw into the doorframe striker plate provides good home security.
13. A Door Frame striker plate fastened with 3-inch metal screws can also be well worth your investment.
14. The use of a 3rd locking mechanism on windows as per the County or City Fire Marshal’s code and approval may add security to the home.
15. Photograph and Engrave or Mark valuables in an inconspicuous place with the homeowners own identifiable marking.
16. Keep an inventory of valuables model/serial numbers.
17. Keep various photos of all valuables and antiques.
18. Please, “Do Not,” use Driver’s License Numbers, Social Security Numbers or any other name or number that the homeowner would not want disclosed to the public when marking valuables.
19. Keep model/serial numbers of valuables in a safe and secure location.
20. Clear shrubs away from windows to allow clear fields of view of the homeowners yard and surrounding neighborhood.
21. Keep trees and shrubs manicured and trimmed up off the ground and tops trimmed down.
22. Keep trashcans and other sturdy materials that may be used for climbing up into windows away from windows and home.
23. Clear front and back yards of unwanted piles of debris that can be used as hiding places.
24. Never open the door to solicitors and strangers.
25. Never trust a single safety chain to secure a door as they can be easily broken with force.
Please contact the Comal County Sheriff’s Office, Crime Prevention Team between the hours of 8am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday at, (830) 643-5842 or (830) 643-5845 to schedule your Homeowners Safety and Security Inspection.
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