Saginaw Police Department

Home Security Inspections

To schedule a home security inspection, contact Officer Damon Ing at 817-230-0319, or at ding@saginawpolice.org. Inspections are by appointment only.

Historically, article 5.33A of the Insurance Code authorized Crime Prevention Inspectors to conduct home security inspections, which in turn provided for reduction in homeowner's insurance premiums. The code was repealed by the legislature in 2003, but many insurance companies still recognize and honor the inspections, along with the state inspection form. Review the form HERE.

Inspection standards are outlined below:

HOME SECURITY HARDWARE

· Exterior doors must be solid core doors that are 1 3/8 inches thick and must be secured by deadbolt locks. The deadbolt must lock with a minimum throw of one (1) inch and must penetrate a metal strike plate firmly secured to the doorframe. If a door secured with a deadbolt has breakable glass within forty (40) inches of the lock, the deadbolt lock must be a double cylinder (double keyed) deadbolt. (UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LIFE SAFETY CODE).

· Deadbolt locks (as outlined above) must secure metal doors.

· Double doors must meet specifications for exterior doors listed above in (1), and have the inactive door secured by header and threshold bolts that penetrate metal strike plates. If glass is located within forty inches of the header and threshold bolts, the bolts must be flush-mounted in the edge of the door.

· Sliding glass doors are secured by secondary locking devices to prevent lifting and prying.

· Dutch doors have a concealed flush-bolt locking device to interlock the upper and lower halves and a deadbolt lock as described in (1) above secures the door.

· Garage doors are equipped with key-operating locking devices.

· Windows are secured by auxiliary locking devices. An auxiliary locking device required by this section must include screws, wooden dowels, pinning devices, or key-operated locks. In areas where life safety codes permit, metal bars or grating, if mounted to prevent easy removal, may be substituted for auxiliary locking devices. Jalousie or louvered windows DO NOT meet the specifications of this section unless they have metal grating mounted as provided for above.

ALARM SYSTEMS

· All exterior structure openings are contacted. (This includes ALL exterior windows and doors.)

· The alarm system includes an interior AND exterior siren.

· The alarm is monitored by a U.L. (Underwriters Laboratories) approved central station.

· All alarms system equipment is U.L. approved.

· All sales, service, installation and monitoring of the alarm system are done in compliance with the Private Investigations and Private Security Agencies Act (Article 4413 (29bb), Vernons Texas Civil Statutes).

· The Texas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies licenses the Alarm Company.

Information concerning the licensing requirements and U.L. approval of alarm equipment can be obtained from your alarm company representative. This information must be made available to the inspector at the time of the inspection in order for the alarm site to pass.

The above requirements are mandated by the Texas Department of Insurance and will not be waived.

OFFICER ING'S CERTIFICATION

As listed in the current rules for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education:

§221.15. Crime Prevention Inspector Proficiency

(a) To qualify for a crime prevention inspector proficiency certificate, an applicant must meet all proficiency requirements including successful completion of the current training course reported by an approved training provider.

(b) The commission shall make a monthly report to the Department of Insurance, listing persons certified to conduct homeowners insurance inspections, including any individual who is currently reported as both a commissioned peace officer and the holder of a valid crime prevention inspector proficiency certificate.

(c) The commission shall purge from this report each month the name of any person who:

(1) loses certification by revocation, suspension, cancellation, or any other means; or

(2) holds a crime prevention inspector proficiency certificate and is reported terminated as a peace officer.

(d) The effective date of this section is March 1, 2001.

Click HERE for more information on Crime Prevention Inspectors.

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Saginaw Police Department - 505 W. McLeroy Boulevard - Saginaw, Texas 76179