PROTECTING YOUR HOME

First Begin with the front door: 

 A locked front door is always your first line of defense

 Spend more on high-quality dead-bolt locks. Bored-in dead-bolt locks that are embedded into the door provide the best protection

 Without dead-bolt locks, burglars may be able to easily open your front door using a credit card to push back the tongue of the lock

 Invest in a peephole. 180-degree peepholes give you the advantage of seeing who’s at the door before you open it

 Always make sure the area outside your door is well lit

 If you just moved into your new home, replace every lock so that you have the only set of keys


Secure your windows:

 Install locks or pins. Use the same brand of locks on all of your windows so it’s easy and convenient to use them

 Always keep the key to the locks in a safe, but easy-to-access location so you can get to it quickly

 Also keep any trees or shrubs around windows trimmed. By doing so, this will make it more difficult for burglars to conceal themselves.


Adequate lighting:

 Two of a burglar’s biggest enemies are noise and light

 Installing lights around your home that are activated by motion can help scare off unwelcome visitors

 Exterior sensor lights also help to light the path to your front door when you come home

 Use timers to light inside areas of your home if you’re home alone or away

 Using these economical and easy-to-use devices gives the appearance that someone is home and is a good way to make sure you’re consistently protected.

 

Make a home security checklist:

 Turn down the telephone and answering machine volume when you go out so burglars can’t hear that no one is home

 If you’re a single woman or live alone, keep your answering machine message non-specific (e.g., “We’re not home right now…”) or have a male friend record your message

 Don’t leave notes for family or friends outside your home

 Don’t leave tools or ladders lying around your yard since impulse burglars can use them to gain access to your home

 Make sure all exterior door hinges are on the inside

 Lock garage doors and sliding glass doors every night and whenever you are away from home.


Make a home security checklist:

 Don’t hide keys outside your home, such as in your mailbox, under doormats or above doorways. Burglars usually know the hiding spots

 If you’re a single woman or live alone, leave a pair of men’s shoes outside your door from time to time or especially when service repairmen are visiting

 If you’re planning to go away, either have your mail picked up by a neighbor or request that your local post office stop delivery until you get back. You’ll also want to cancel any other regular deliveries, such as newspapers

 Tell relatives or neighbors when you’ll be back and let them know where you can be reached in an emergency.

Make a home security checklist:

 If a stranger asks to use your phone, don’t let them inside your home. If they say it is an emergency, take down the details with your door closed and make the call for them

 All representatives of legitimate companies have ID cards. If someone representing the phone, cable, gas or any other home service or repair company knocks on your door, always ask them to show their ID or badge number and write it down. Always call their company for confirmation before letting them in your home 

 If you receive a harassing phone call, say nothing and hang up the phone immediately. If you keep receiving these calls, immediately report the calls to the local police and your telephone company.

Make a home security checklist:

 When you buy a new appliance, such as a TV or computer, always destroy the box or hide it in your trash so others won’t know you have something new and valuable

 Always videotape, photograph or keep a written register of all your valuables and their serial numbers

 Store valuable documents such as insurance policies and wills in a safety deposit box

 Program emergency contact numbers into your phone memory and clearly label them so it will be easy to dial them in an emergency.

Make a home security checklist:

 Every six months, you should inspect your home as if you’ve been locked out. How would you get in? Look for weak spots and realize that if you can get inside, so could someone else

 Check to see if there’s an active neighborhood watch association in your community. This program helps keep you updated on problems in your neighborhood and gets more people to help watch and protect your home and family

 If there is no active neighborhood watch program in your community, contact your local law enforcement agency to find out how you can start one.

Source: Adt.com

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