A few people have asked for a post with information on crime prevention and related topics. Here you go.
Graffiti – Graffiti must be removed within 24 hours. You can report graffiti on public or private property (the City will contact the property owner to remind them that it must be removed within 24 hours) by calling the City’s Graffiti Report Line at (206) 684-7587 or use the Online Report Form. Make a police report to (206) 625-5011 when graffiti appears on your property. If you see an act of graffiti vandalism in progress, call 911 immediately.
Abandoned Vehicles – to report vehicles parked on a public street or city property for over 72 hours call 684-8763 or go here. For more information on the City of Seattle 72-hour on-street parking ordinance go here.
Zoning Violations – For information on zoning rules and when to contact DPD, see the Clean up Your Act program here. Common violations include:
- Parking in a required yard
- Exceeding the allowed number of vehicles (this includes boats and the number is lower than you might expect)
- Junk stored on property
- Overgrown bushes/weeds
- Car repair businesses at private residences
Other North Precinct Public Safety Numbers – go here.
Home Security Tips (from the North Precinct Crime Prevention web site)
First and foremost, be sure to use the locks you have and be consistent. About 40% of the time burglars do not need to use force to enter homes. This means that people are leaving windows and doors open or unlocked. Many people believe window screens offer some protection but they do not. It is also common for people to leave windows open or unlocked when they are only gone for a short time. The average burglary takes a total of five minutes, so develop the habit of making sure your home is secure every time you leave.
Most burglars look fairly average and “normal” for the neighborhood. Most are young men, from teens to twenties, mostly white (especially in a predominantly white neighborhoods) and are alone or in pairs. The standard method is to knock on the door to see if anyone is home. If you are home it is a good idea to answer the door. Remember, you don’t have to open the door to answer it; you can speak through the door. If the burglar gets no answer, he usually goes around to the side or back to break in. If you notice this behavior do not hesitate to call 911. Yes, you could be mistaken but it is better to call and have police check it out.
The strongest, heaviest door and locks are usually on front doors, so burglars head for side and back doors that tend to be weaker and are more hidden from view. All doors should be solid, and protected with good quality dead bolts. If your back door has a plywood panel on the bottom and/or glass in the top you can reinforce it without having to buy a new door. You can install exterior grade plywood over the bottom panel and plexi-glass or lexan over the window.
Additionally, all door frames should be reinforced with long screws that anchor the door frame to the supporting 2” x 4”next to the door. Dead bolt strike plates also need to be installed with screws that are long enough (usually 3” to 4”) to reach the 2” x 4”stud. Currently, burglars are defeating dead bolt protected doors by shattering door frame material, as it is usually weaker than the door or the lock.
Windows, especially sliding windows should fit snugly in their tracks. You can purchase plastic shims or install sheet metal screws in the upper track and leave them sticking out just enough to allow the window to slide but not be able to be lifted out of the frame.
Newer windows of all styles tend to have double glass and fit snugly. This is mostly for energy consciousness but it does make them more trouble to break. If you have single pane windows or any window in a particularly vulnerable location you may need to add window locks. Burglars very rarely break out enough glass to crawl through; it’s too dangerous and time consuming. What they do is break out just enough glass to reach inside and undo the latch. They then open the window and enter. A keyed window lock or one installed in a way that is hard to reach can keep them out. However, be sure that you have adequate fire escape routes, especially in bedrooms.
Most burglaries occur during the day or the early evening and most of the small percentage that happen at night are to obviously empty houses or to occupied home that have left a door or window unlocked allowing for silent entry.
As the days shorten, many people do not arrive home from work until it has been dark for an hour or two. A completely dark house in the late afternoon says “empty” and will attract the attention of burglars especially if they familiar with the area and see it day after day. Use simple, inexpensive timers for lamps to give the impression that someone is home.
If you have a lot of thick bushes or overgrowth you may be providing hiding places for burglars. Clear out, thin or bottom prune to strike a balance between security and privacy.
For more information on these topics or on Block Watch, residential security, neighborhood crime and public safety concerns, and free home security surveys, contact North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, Diane Horswill at (206) 684-7711 or diane.horswill@seattle.gov.
For the North District Crime Prevention website go here.
