Crime Prevention Tip of the Month

July 2005
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Greetings!

Welcome to the Crime Prevention Tip of the Month. First, a little about me. I'm a working Police Officer in my thirtieth year with a major North American Police Service. I've been involved in Crime Prevention for 9 years and specialize in CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). In fact, I instruct other officers in this at the Police College. In my position as Crime Prevention Officer, I consult with homeowners, businesses and developers in their attempt to design out crime.

I am delighted to contribute to Mr. Goodbar's website. I firmly believe that physical security is the best kind of security because it leaves no question in the mind of the criminal as to the premise's level of protection. In my opinion, the use of window bars is the next best visual deterrent to having a Police Officer standing on your lawn.

Get the right product the first time! - Part II
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Last month we reviewed when, where and why you might choose to use window security bars. This was in an attempt to deal with the confusion caused by the existence of "window bars" and "window guards". This month, we'll look at window guards.

Window guards are units installed to prevent children from falling out of windows. Every year, children are killed and seriously injured when they lean through open windows and accidentally push out the screen. Installing window guards will prevent your children from having this type of accident.

Characterized by:

• Smaller cross bars
• Lighter-grade construction materials, like aluminum
• Easy to use releasing systems that are readily accessed from outside the home
• Spacing of no more than four inches between bars

Where to use: In any room used by your child that is more than 10 feet off the ground.

Installation tips: Proper installation is critical. The window guard must be able to hold the weight of a child, and it won't be able to if it is not installed into the framework of the house. Also, be sure the framework is in good shape. A window guard is only as good as the wood it is screwed into.

In bedrooms: If the window is needed as a secondary escape route, be sure to use a window guard with an emergency release mechanicsm.

Extra bonus: Your window guards won't keep anyone out of your house, but they will offer some visual security, which may be all you need, especially on upper level windows.

If you know you need to keep the kids from tumbling out more than you need to keep the bad guys from getting in, window guards are definitely the way to go.

Click here to learn more about window safety.

Mr. Goodbar Meets Mr. Handyman
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What's the biggest complaint we hear from our customers? Why don't you install?

We can't install because we'd spend most of our time flying across North America, following the products we sell. We'd even have to go to the Carribean several times a month (actually, we could handle that!).

But we understand why you want an installer. Sometimes you're just too busy to get the installation done. Sometimes you don't want to hunt for your tools. And sometimes, well, you just don't really consider yourself very handy.

Finally, we've found a solution!

Mr. Handyman is a national home handyman company, with franchises across North America. They are established, respected and professional. Participating Mr. Handyman outlets have received the MR. GOODBAR training manual and are ready to install any of your MR. GOODBAR products.

Click here for a great deal on installation!

Protect Your Friends and Family
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