BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DUE to the astronomical incidences of house breakings, SKNVibes met Corporal Carl Greaux of the Criminal Investigation Department at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court shortly after the conclusion of a related case and sought his advice on some preventative measures that could be employed by home owners and the business community in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Greaux said that burglary is a crime of opportunity and to a burglar, visibility means vulnerability. He noted that burglars hide behind fences, shrubs and any other available object to conceal themselves while casing an intended house or building to break in.
He advised that the key is to keep trespassers out while keeping your property visible.
“Any fencing around your property can be a psychological deterrent to illegal entry. A burglar needs to think he can get away with whatever he takes from your home. Some types of fencing can actually be appealing to a burglar, as it may provide protection from being seen while breaking into your home,” Greaux said.
He also advised that a chain-link fence might be the best alternative, as it is difficult to scale, prevents or slows entry any exit and does not prevent neighbours from observing a break-in.
He noted that persons should cut high shrubs or hedges to a reasonable height, especially those close to windows, so that burglars could not use them to avoid detection.
Asked how lights could be used to deter a burglar, Greaux said, “Lights are great crime deterrents. In fact, illuminate all dark areas, especially doors and windows. If your business is within a poorly-lit area, join with other business owners and consult with the Electricity Department for more lights or pool funds and underwrite the cost to yourselves. For homeowners, identify the dimly-lit areas, walk around your house at a distance of approximately 15-25 feet on a dark night and have someone dressed in dark clothing stand near vulnerable entrances or hiding places near to your home.”
“This method,” he said, “should help to determine where lights would best be positioned to deter a burglar from practicing his or her art on your property.”
He pointed out that burglars normally try the doors and windows first to see if they could gain easy access. However, if they have difficulty in gaining access, chances are they would move on to another property.
Greaux added that there are several factors that lend to the overall security of doors. He noted the quality of the door itself, the strike plates, hinges and latches, construction of the door’s frame and the integrity of the locks.
“No matter how sturdy the door is, weak fasteners are frequently the major contributor to an insecure exterior doorway. Improperly aligned latches and strike plates, or shorter than adequate screws on hinges can make even the sturdiest door pop open with a minimal amount of pressure,” Greaux said.
He added that doors that swing outwards have hinges on the outside and a burglar could easily remove the pins and take off the door. To address this situation, the Corporal said that homeowners should remove the centre screw from each side of the hinge and insert a metal pin or headless screw on one side, so when the door is closed the end of the pin would fit into the opposite hole. He further added that even if the pins were removed the door would remain bolted to the frame.
“I have gone to breakings and saw where burglars kick in weak doors. So, we at the Criminal Investigation Department advise the victims to replace hollow-core doors with solid-core ones, or strengthen them with metal sheets. We also recommend that weak door frames be replaced or reinforced with steel or concrete,” Greaux explained.
He also advised to protect windows by putting grates, grill work or bars over them, or cover the glass on the inside with a clear polybonate sheet.
“There are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration in the protection of your home or business. Before you invest in an alarm system, weigh the cost against your needs. How valuable is your merchandise? How great is your risk? After installing an alarm, let burglars know by putting warning signs on windows and entrances.
“Anytime you believe that someone else may have a key for unauthorised entry to your home, it is wise to change the locks. This is particularly recommended if you have purchased a new home or if you move into a previously occupied apartment, as you have no idea to whom the tenants had given keys.
“We at the CID encourage the general public to mark their properties and keep a complete up-to-date inventory of their merchandise. This will help the police in recovering property if stolen. Remember, locks and alarms cannot prevent a burglary unless they’re in use,” Greaux said.
In his final advice, the Corporal said if a businessperson suspects that his/her premises was burglarised, they should not enter the building. They must not open for business because the employees and or customers may unwittingly alter valuable evidence. “They should call the police immediately.”
