Security Survey

Security Survey

The West University Place Police Department offers a service to West U residents that can provide helpful tips to better secure your home.

A residential security survey involves a police officer visiting your home and inspecting your doors, locks, windows and other features of your home. The officer may be able to identify and suggest modifications that could potentially make your home less susceptible to criminal activity.

If you are interested in having a security survey completed, call us 713.668.0330 to schedule an appointment.

A brief checklist of areas that are inspected.

Security Hardware Provisions

  • All exterior doors must be of solid core construction and be secured by dead-bolt locks.
  • Dead-bolt locks must lock with a minimum bolt throw of 1 inch that penetrates a metal strike plate.
  • If there is breakable glass within 40 inches of the dead-bolt lock, the lock must be key-operated from both sides.
  • Double doors must have the inactive door secured by header and threshold bolts that penetrate metal strike plates.
  • Sliding glass doors must be secured by a secondary locking device to prevent lifting and prying.
  • Garage doors must be equipped with key-operated locking devices.
  • Windows must be secured by auxiliary locking devices (above and beyond what the manufacturer installed). An auxiliary locking device can include screws, wooden dowels, pinning devices, or key-operated locks.

Alarm Requirements

The property must be equipped with an electronic burglar alarm system that meets the following requirements:

  • All doors and windows (upstairs and downstairs) must have alarm contacts.
  • The system must have an audible siren.
  • All equipment must be Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved and monitored by a UL approved monitoring station.