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Rural Crime...
Trouble in Paradise |
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One of the
most attractive qualities of rural living is the spaciousness of the
countryside, with its breathtaking scenery and peaceful solitude.
But, while rural people derive great satisfaction in living where there's
"lots of elbow room," criminals are taking advantage of the
wide-open spaces of rural areas.
Property
crimes in rural America are now much more commonplace than they were a
decade ago. Vandals, thieves and burglars know that sparsely settled
communities, isolated houses, outlying buildings, remote fields and the
open country offer "easy pickings". Criminals can
vandalize mailboxes, lawns and property, steal valuable tools and
equipment; and burglarize households... with little chance of being seen
or heard.
Although
rural crime strikes persons of all ages, it is of particular concern to
the elderly. For retirees and older residents, crime will often have
serious psychological, physical and economic impacts.
Many of the
most frequent committed crimes in rural America are crimes of opportunity.
CRIME PREVENTION can halt most crim8inal activity by reducing opportunity.
Personal responsibility for crime prevention is an basic duty of all
Americans. Citizen involvement enhances the effectiveness of
law enforcement to prevent and control crime.
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Twenty percent of the rural residences and farms occupied by persons age
60 and over are victimized each year by at least one property crime
incident.
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Vandalism is the leading crime in the countryside.
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Larceny near the house or on the premises, residential burglary,
trespassing and criminal fraud are also major crime problems for the
elderly.
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Less than 40 percent of the crimes committed against older persons are
reported to the police or the sheriff.
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These are
some of the recent research findings from studies conducted by the
National Rural Crime Prevention Center at Ohio State University.
Through
increased awareness and resolute action, you can protect your homestead.
The criminal opportunist likes to work quickly, and unobserved.
Safeguards that can cause a criminal to take more TIME, make more NOISE
and become more VISIBLE can be effective deterrents. Here are some
pointers on how you can reduce your chances of becoming a crime victim.
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BEAT THE
BURGLAR
* Use
a deadbolt LOCK with a 1-1/2 inch thro9w and a solid core wood or metal
DOOR on all outside entrances to your home and other buildings.
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Inventory and mark, engrave or photograph all household valuables, farm
machinery and equipment.
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Contact your LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
SERVICE, OR FARM ORGANIZATION for recommendations on the property
marking system to use in your area.
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Display WARNING STICKERS or decals on doors and windows to notify the
potential burglar that your property has been marked.
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Connect automatic TIMERS to interior lighting and a radio. Set
timers to make your home look and sound occupied whenever you are away.
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Secure your WINDOWS with locks, bars or bolts, depending on their style
and location.
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Trim LANDSCAPE and locate outside LIGHTING to allow for easy viewing
from the house and various work areas.
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THWART THE
THIEF
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PADLOCK gates, fuel tanks and storage areas. Use padlocks and
chains made from casehardened steel.
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SECURE lawnmowers, tractors and other machinery left outside overnight
or longer.
**Position
machinery where it can be seen from a neighbor's house or park it
behind a hill or wooded area.
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Install a hidden power switch or DISABLE machinery by removing the
distributor cap, rotary or battery.
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CHAIN or LOCK the wheels together or lock equipment to a stationary
object.
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When possible, STORE tools and equipment in a shed or barn within sight
of the homestead.
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Record the location, diameter, height and kind of TREES on your
property. Take photographs. Paint a permanent stripe or
identifying mark on valuable trees.
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Brand or tattoo LIVESTOCK and maintain a complete record of all animals.
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Mark and inventory TOOLS and EQUIPMENT with a permanent identification
number. Place primary (visible) and secondary (hidden) markings on
machinery.
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STOP THE
VANDAL AND TRESPASSER
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Post WARNING SIGNS and notices of membership in reward programs at all
property entrances and other visible locations.
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Areas adjacent to public roads are most vulnerable and should be fenced,
if possible. If feasible, use a CHAIN LINK FENCE with at least two
strands of barbed wire angled out from the top.
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Create BORDER BARRIERS to supplement fencing or limit access in open
areas. Deep drainage ditches and/or posts set in concrete or dirt
mounds are less costly alternatives to fencing which can bar vehicles
from the property.
* Use
LANDSCAPING to keep out vandals and trespassers. Trees, bushes,
and stone or rock borders can be effective deterrents.
* In
isolated areas, an ALARM SYSTEM - electronic device, watch dog or farm
animals can alert you to intruders.
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USING THE
ZONE APPROACH
The
spaciousness of rural areas and the physical layout of the country
homesteads present special crime prevention problems. The zone
approach is an effective system for identifying the unique security needs
of county residences, ranches, and farms. Each of the following four
zones represents an area with common security considerations.
Zone One:
Perimeter Security
The
boundaries of the property serve as the first line of defense.
Secure all entrances and access areas to your property. Use
warning signs, gates and locks, fencing and other barriers.
Zone Two:
Outlying Security
Zone two
covers remote fields and pastures, gardens, timberland and outlying
buildings. This is the most difficult One to secure.
Minimize exposure of any equipment in the fields, livestock in
pastures or outlying lots, timber and storage facilities.
Zone Three:
Central Work Area Security
Visibility
and storage are the key factors in improving security in the center of
operations. Protect your tools, equipment and other tempting
targets by keeping areas well-lit, trimming landscape, marking
property, storing and locking things up.
Zone Four:
Central Storage Area Security
All
sheds, barns, silos and other buildings are part of Zone Four.
Many of these facilities were built to keep out the weather, not the
criminal. Secure storage buildings with strong doors, and lock
doors and windows. Consider a watchdog or alarm system to alert
you to intruders.
When you
secure each of these zones, you will have implemented a comprehensive
crimes prevention program for your homestead. Although the zone
approach cannot guarantee absolute security, it can reduce your risk
of victimization.
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