Terrie Johnston is funny. She’s a person who comes into your home and seems like a friend from the minute she’s over the threshold, noticing the touches that are your own favorites and making you laugh. “I love this house,” she exclaims, “Can I move in?”

But when she exclaims over the “thick, beautiful front door” she’s not just admiring the wood, she’s there to assess the door as a crime deterrent. She works her way through the house like the most sincere and yet polished of real estate agents, but she accentuates different features.

Of the new metal strike plates being fashioned, she says, “I love, love, love that!”

Terrie Johnston is the Crime Prevention Coordinator for Seattle Police Department, North Precinct. She has been on the force 30 years and in community organization for the last twenty-four. She is visiting my friend Lynn’s home in Ballard because two weeks ago on a Saturday night my friend returned home from a school play to find the lock on her back door splintered and the door still open.

Lynn remembered hearing Mayor McGinn tell people to always call 9-1-1. Not knowing if someone was still in her home she did just that, then waited in her car for police. Beginning with the rapid arrival of two squad cars, Lynn has been struck ever since by SPD’s responsiveness, professionalism and genuine concern.

Not even two weeks later Terrie Johnston is conducting a security survey to help my friend and her husband to prevent future crimes; Johnston conducted some 111 such visits in 2011. Also in 2011 she conducted 51 Block Watch meetings; presented at 76 community meetings; lead 38 personal safety/workplace violence trainings; and sent out about 40 e-lerts, in addition to responding to significant events when directed by precinct commanders.

Johnston has so much Southern charm (okay, she’s from Portland) that her Block Watch meetings probably play like house parties, except she’s not selling jewelry or make-up, just offering suggestions that seem simple in hindsight. Even though there has been a spike in residential crime in the neighborhood lately don’t we always think that a break-in happens to someone else?

Johnston starts making her points from the welcome mat. “What a lovely home. Is that street number address illuminated at night? First responders really want to be able to find you.” She also recommends posting addresses if anyone has an additional alley entrance, adding a story about an officer’s challenge in radioing his position during an alley chase.

The night of the break-in Lynn waited in her car while police officers searched her house and then an officer stayed with her several hours gathering evidence. The fact the break-in took place at night is actually unusual; most residential burglaries are daytime, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Johnston reads all the burglary reports and has over a quarter century of experience with crime in Seattle. “The average break-in is about nine minutes long,” she said. “I hate to say it but the people who break in are kind of lazy. They are looking for signs that people are away. Maybe they’ve gotten out of jail and are staying with their mom or their girlfriend in the neighborhood.”

Jewelry, electronics and cash are the most popular items although Johnston has heard of 70” plasma screens being carried out, “Didn’t anyone notice?” she wonders. It’s quite common for a pillow case to be missing, during those nine daytime minutes the burglars often start in the master bedroom. Too often the break-in is more of a walk-in; entry is commonly gained through an unlocked door. Still Johnston advocates adding as many layers of difficulty to entry as possible. “You wouldn’t think a screen would be a deterrent,” she said, “But we’ve seen it.”

At Lynn’s house she studies each exterior door jam, exclaiming over one lock, “It’s lame, Lynn,” she said, clearly enjoying the alliteration. Johnston likes any deadbolt to be at least 40” from the glass. She likes long screws and metal strike plates. She thinks leaving a porch light on all day is a bad idea that announces, ‘I won’t be home until after dark.’ She tsk tsks over people who let uncollected newspapers make it obvious when they are away.

“We do love double cylinder deadbolt locks,” Johnston said of another door, as though she’s talking double shot espresso instead of a deadbolt that has a lock throw of at least ½”. “Hang some cowbells,” she says, “Hang some chimes.” If there’s a back gate or a door that needs to be more secure she recommends hanging something that makes noise until it’s fixed. Johnston loves motion sensor lights in dark areas but knows that birds, raccoons and the ghosts of the cow that once grazed in my friend’s yard might trigger them too readily.

Longer screws, a list of neighbor’s phone numbers and a phone in the bedroom, checking to see if laptops or electronics are easily visible from outside and keeping doors locked, Johnston’s advice is practical.

“Don’t let them in,” she said of solicitors or a stranger knocking at the door. “Learn to yell, I can’t open the door--the dog has rabies.”

Johnston also recommends homeowners keep a list of serial numbers and an inventory and photographs of valuable objects. Very few stolen goods get claimed, in part because owners don’t have serial numbers. Bicycles are a popular theft item for that reason. “There are myths about how crimes happen,” she said. “A car prowl is still the most likely, theft in occupied houses still rare, it’s more typical for it to be mid-day, more than one person, seasonal. Nighttime burglaries are not very common.”

“How long have you lived here? Twelve years?” Johnston said. “This is your first break-in? Let’s hope the only one. You just took one for the team.”

Johnston will return to share her tips for reducing crime with a group of neighbors. “I’m so glad I get to come back to this house,” she said. “I could move in,” she offered again.

For more information call SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston at 206.684.7711 or terrie.johnston@seattle.gov