Crime Prevention is the most basic of all security concepts. By using some of the tips provided here, you can make yourself, your home and your business safer. For any questions not answered here, contact the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Office at 210-335-6155 or 210-335-6148 ext. 55 or 48

You can also email the Crime Prevention Section at:

prevention@bexar.org

Residential Security Inspection

A home security inspection is a FREE service that is provided by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Unit through the Texas Department of Insurance.  

All inspections are conducted by Sheriff's Deputies who are  state certified crime prevention specialists. The criteria for the inspections are set forth by the Texas Insurance Code, Article 5.33A, Section 6(A)(1&2).

Upon completion of a home inspection, homeowners may qualify for an insurance premium discount anywhere from 5% to 20%.

Please call the Bexar County Crime Prevention Unit at 210-226-0303 ext. 220 or 239 for an appointment. This is a FREE service of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

To pass the home physical security inspection, Texas requires the following:

* Exterior wooden doors must be solid core doors at least 1 3/8 inch thick and secured by dead-bolt locks.  The bolts must penetrate a metal strike plate with a minimum bolt lock through of one inch.  If breakable glass is located within 40 inches of the lock, the lock must be key operated from both sides unless prohibited by life safety codes.

* Metal doors must be secured by dead-bolt locks as described above.

* Double doors must meet the specifications for exterior doors as described above.

* Double doors must meet the specifications for exterior doors as listed above with the inactive door secured by header and threshold bolts that penetrate metal strike plates. If the bolts are within 40 inches  of breakable glass, the bolts must be flush mounted against the door.

* Sliding glass doors must be secured by secondary locking devices to prevent prying and lifting.

* Dutch doors must have concealed flush mounted locking devices to interlock the upper and lower halves and must be secured by a deadbolt lock as described in the first section above.

* Garage doors must be equipped with key-operated locking devices or with electric garage door openers.

* Windows must be secured by auxiliary locking devices.  Auxiliary locking devices are screws, wooden dowels, pinning devices, and/or key operated locks.  In areas in which life safety codes permit, metal bars or grating mounted to prevent easy removal, may be substituted for auxiliary locking devices.  Jalousie or louvered windows meet the specifications only with metal grating mounted as stated above.

To pass the home alarm security inspection, the property must be equipped with an electronic burglar alarm that meets the following requirements:

* All exterior openings must be contacted.

* The system must include interior and exterior sirens.

* All equipment must be approved by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and monitored by a UL approved central station.

* Sales, services, installations, and monitoring of the system must be done in compliance with the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act (article 4413 (29bb), Vernon Civil Statutes.