- Trim your trees to maximize eyewitness potential for a clear line of site.
- Remove spiny, thorny or otherwise hostile vegetation around fencing and low-level windows.
- Trim trees to ensure they do not allow access to your second floor.
- Keep your landscaping groomed and maintained.
- Keep your backyard and its contents private and hidden so your neighbours and others can't see your backyard.
- If your property is fenced, ensure your gates are routinely locked.
Home Property Safety Audit
Crime prevention is everyone's responsibility. With coordinated action, together we can improve the safety of our communities.
We invite residents to take the Neighbourhood Home Property Safety Audit to help increase the safety of your home and help reduce the risk of burglary.
Use this self-audit tool to help safeguard your home and keep your property safe. Check the boxes below that apply to your home or property. Make a plan to have all the boxes checked.
Download and print a copy of the Home Property Self-Audit here.
Home Property Safety Audit
- Install motion activated exterior lights
- House numbers clearly visible from the road at night.
- All walkways leading to the residence well lit.
- Adequate illumination to prevent hiding near windows and doors.
- Know your neighbour's names.
- Know your neighbour's street addresses.
- Call the police when you observe suspicious vehicles or people.
- Keep your doors locked when you are out in the backyard or garage.
- Install solid steel exterior doors.
- Add a "peep hole" on your exterior door.
- Ensure your sliding patio doors are secured by screws and/or bars.
- Use 3-inch screws on exterior strike plates.
- Deadlocks should have a minimum 1-inch throw into the jamb using 2.5 inch screws.
- Use working lock mechanisms on all windows.
- Ensure your sliding patio doors are secured by screws and/or bars.
- Add security film to windows.
- Install semi-permanent security bars or grills to basement windows.
- Cancel newspapers.
- Have interior lights on timers.
- Ensure your lawn is mowed and/or snow is removed.
- Ask trusted neighbours or friends to watch your home.
- Have your mail, newspapers etc. stopped, picked up or re-directed.
- Do not share that you are away on social media.
- Install a security alarm system.
- Make sure your security system has a back-up power supply.
- Ensure those watching your home know how to arm and disarm the alarm.
- Your alarm system should be loud enough for neighbours to hear.
- Always secure garage windows.
- Do not leave garage door openers in vehicles parked outside your garage.
- Remove hand tools like hammers, drills, or pry-bars.
- When away for extended periods of time, be sure to disconnect your garage door from the inside.
- Keep ladders in locked areas.
- Always lock up tools and bikes - even when stored in a shed or garage.
- Inscribe your valuables with your driver's licence number.
- Have a video and written inventory of your valuables including serial numbers.
- Have a burglary-resistant safe, bolted in place, storage container, or hiding area for your valuables.
- Keep important papers such as your will, insurance, passport, stocks, bonds, etc., kept off-site in a safety deposit box.
- Close all windows. Even if you are away for a short time period.
- Install a residential surveillance video system, as per the bylaw #30-2022. (View bylaws online at www.brantford.ca/ByLaw
The more boxes you check, the more secure your home will be.