In the Home

Protect Yourself In Your Home


  • Be sure the exterior of your home is well lit at night.
  • Install solid wood or metal doors equipped with good deadbolt locks.
  • Move exterior door hinges to the interior or install non-removable hinge pins.
  • Install a wide-angle peephole for a full view outside the door.
  • Keep all doors locked at all times.
  • Instruct children to never answer a doorbell or a knock at the door.
  • Put curtains or blinds on all windows and keep them closed at night.
  • When moving into a house or apartment, change or re-key all locks.
  • If door keys have been lost, change locks or re-key immediately.
  • Do not hide door keys outside your home.
  • Avoid giving your house keys to anyone other than family members or trusted friends.
  • Know the neighbors you can trust in an emergency.
  • Use your initials, instead of your first name in the phone book and on your mailbox.
  • If you hear a prowler inside your house, get out of the house through a back door or window. Avoid confrontation with the prowler.
  • When returning home, have your keys ready and enter the house as quickly as possible.
  • If you sense that something is not right, do not go into your home or apartment. Call the police from a trusted neighbor’s phone.
  • If a stranger asks to use your phone, get the information and place the call for him/her. Do not allow any stranger into your home.
  • Never let it be known that you are home alone.
  • Avoid going out alone at night.
  • Do not leave clubs or nightspots with strangers or invite them to your apartment or home.
  • Before letting a repair or delivery person into your home, verify by telephone that they work for the company they say they represent and have been sent for the reason stated. Always ask for a company ID.
Check out what to do if you become a victim of assault.

Contact Us


For more information, please contact the Aberdeen Police Department at 605-626-7911. If this is an emergency, please dial 911.