Crime Free Mutli-Housing

Capps Office

                                   North Patrol Division Property Crimes Unit

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Crime Prevention Tip of the Month @ North Patrol

Don't Give the Burglar a Helping Hand

Most home burglars are amateurs looking for easy targets. They're looking for homes which present the least risk of detection, the greatest opportunity for easy gain, and the maximum potential for escape. They're looking for homes which appear unoccupied and unprotected; homes without adequate locks and lighting; open or unlocked doors and windows, and home sites which provide easy concealment from neighbors and passing motorists.

Unfortunately, the burglar doesn't need to look around very long to discover "Welcome Burglar" signs unwittingly left around many homes. It is even more unfortunate when you realize that all it takes to make your home less inviting to a burglar is a little common sense and several easy, effective and inexpensive crime prevention measures. By following these suggestions you can decrease your chances of becoming a burglary victim.

• Survey Your Home

Look at your home through a burglar's eyes. Does it look like an easy target?

• Are there obvious security weaknesses?

Shrubbery should not obscure doors and windows. Trim the growth so that a burglar cannot work undetected.

At night, leave a few lights burning outside your home. Lights over doorways and garages, and strategically placed floodlights will make your home less inviting to a burglar.

Windows and doors should be securely locked. Inadequate locks should be replaced or supplemented.

• Make your home look occupied at all times.

Common sense is all that is needed to identify most security weaknesses around your home. To supplement your survey and for more complicated security problems in Kansas City, contact the Police Community Relations Officer, (816) 437-6230, for a free home security survey. At your request, a Crime Prevention Officer will survey your home and give you his security recommendations.

• What is a Good Lock?

Crime Prevention experts recommend deadbolt locks to provide the security needed for exterior doors. The bolt should extend at least one inch into the doorframe to provide adequate security.

Many homes are equipped with spring-latch door locks. Most spring-latch locks can be easily jimmied by even the most inexperienced burglar. Replace or Supplement any spring-latch locks with a good deadbolt lock.

Other good security locks such as the jimmy-resistant rim lock are available.

• Ask your Crime Prevention Officer about the best locks for your home.

When you move into a new home, or if you lose your house keys, contact a locksmith to change the tumblers inside the lock. The change can be done quickly and inexpensively, and it makes the old or lost keys useless.

Don't forget to lock up. Even the best locks provide no protection if left unlocked. Securely lock your home even if you plan to be away for only minutes.

• Secure Doors and Windows

Wooden exterior doors have either Solid Core or Hollow Core construction. Solid Core Doors provide the greatest security. They are able to withstand attacks by burglars, and are best suited for installation of good locks.

If an exterior door contains a glass panel or is near a window, you should install a double-cylinder deadbolt lock which requires a key to unlock it from either side of the door. This lock will prevent a burglar from reaching inside to unlock the door after breaking the glass.

Doors which swing open to the outside have exposed hinges in easy reach of the burglar. These doors can be secured by the "hinge pinning" technique: Remove opposing screws from both sides of each hinge plate. Insert pin into hole on door FRAME, leaving a 1/2 inch protrusion. Drill out opposing hold to fit pin when door is closed.

Open garage doors attract burglars. Make a habit of keeping garage doors closed and locked, an open garage door with no car in sight is a clear invitation to a burglar, especially if the garage is used to store such items as bicycles, power mowers, garden tools, and other easily stolen property.

Sliding glass doors are particularly vulnerable to attacks by burglars. The "pinning" technique mentioned above will prevent the lock from being forced or the door from being lifted from the track. Key-operated pins or grips are a preferred method of securing sliding glass doors.

With door closed, drill hole (angle downward) through top and bottom corners of inner frame, partially into outer frame.
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The North Patrol Property Crimes Unit is assigned to the Investigation Bureau of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department. Each of the five Patrol Division Stations have property crimes unit assigned to the station.  Their are currently five Department members assigned to the North Patrol Property Crimes Unit, which includes a Sergeant, three detectives, and one civilian investigative typist.                           

The North Patrol Division would like to welcome , Martha Carlson the North Property Crimes Investigative Typist

The normal business hours for the property crimes unit is 7:00 am to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The main telephone number to the unit is 437-6260. After business hours you may leave a message on voice mail or call the North Patrol Division front desk at 437-6200.

The Property Crimes Unit investigates Property Crimes which occur in the North Patrol Division .  The most common of the offenses that are investigated by the unit are, residential and business burglaries, Auto Thefts, Stealings, (except Shoplifting), and Property Damage.

Detectives at the North Patrol Division Property Crimes Unit each investigate about 20 cases each month, which is the highest average among the five property crimes units in Kansas City.

We  also attend local community meetings, and neighborhood group meetings with information about property crimes.

If you would like more information please call 816-437-6260.