Is
Your Home Security Plan Missing These Key Measures?
Gina and Greg just purchased a new home in a nice suburban
neighborhood. They were proud of their home, but could not help
wondering how they were going to keep it secure. They had never really
faced crime and were not sure what to do.
They asked the police and local neighbors what they did. They were able
to come up with a comprehensive list of easy ways to burglarproof your
home. The impact of these tips can be understood without detailed
explanation.
Install an alarm system. Develop a habit of double checking windows and
doors. Have keys ready when you are entering a home. Placed brace bars
in windows. Turned a walk in closet into a safe room. Keep your yard
organized. When going out of town, let several trusted neighbors know.
Never open your door for people asking to use the phone.
Sleep with a cell phone in your pocket. Make sure your cell phone is
charged. Only use reputable repair and maintenance personnel. Never
have a lock that doesnot require a key near a window. Do not give all
your keys to auto mechanics. Keep you outside area well lighted. Keep
large shubbry and bushes away entrances.
Have a fence around your property. Put dead bolt locks on all your
doors. Vary your daily routine. Do not leave a note on your door
telling people where your are. Leave a light on in one or two or your
rooms when you leave at night. Never leave your garage door opener in
an unlocked car.
Never give out personal information to strangers who call on the
telephone. Join a neighborhood watch project. If your telephone number
is listed, do not list your address. If you are a woman living alone
have you number listed under a male relatives name. Keep you valuables
out of sight when company arrives.
Do not discuss the content of your home with anyone outside of your
family. Never open your door to a stranger. Keep personal areas off
limits to visitors. Never give the keys to your home to a stranger.
Never have your name and address imprinted on a key. Always keep your
drapes drawn at night. Pin" the track of a sliding door by putting a
screw into the upper track, protruding about a quarter-inch.
Secure conventional windows inexpensively by inserting a nail in a hole
drilled through the interior frame and partially into the exterior
frame. Put a keyed padlock on the garage roller track.
Park your car in the driveway, not in the garage. Make sure that
exterior lights are mounted out of reach, so that burglars can not
easily unscrew bulbs.
Consider buying motion-sensitive lights. Use a variable light timer to
activate lights inside your home. Get a dog even a small dog will do.
Case your home the way a burglar would.
Be sure valuables such as guns, electronic devices and artwork are not
visible from the street. Be sure to lock up ladders and tools, which
could be used to break into your home. Place additional locks on all
windows and patio doors.
Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling
people that you are away from home. To avoid opening your door without
knowing who is there, install a door viewer. Do not leave garden tools
out. Never leave a spare key concealed anywhere near the front door.
Burglars know all the hiding places.
Do not label your house keys in case you lose them and they fall into
the wrong hands. When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.
Make sure your door hinges are on the inside. For maximum protection,
use metal doors. Do not use doors with glass panels. Display "Beware"
signs. If you have a dog or an alarm system, put up signs that say you
do.
Be wary of wrong number calls and teach children what to say to
strangers on the phone. Plant thorny shrubs under windows that could
provide easy access into a home. Your house address should be visible
on the front of the building. Report nonfunctioning streetlights.
Have a fence around your property. Reinforce roof entrances. Do not
display your name on the mailbox. Remove the crank handle when the
window is closed. Know who is living in your neighborhood.
