There was a time that we rarely locked our doors except when leaving town. Sadly, that friendlier time and lifestyle has long since passed. Despite increased vigilance and tighter security, more than 2 million burglaries occur each year in this country.
If your upcoming plans include a trip away from home, you may want to refresh yourself on our list of items to make your home safe from intruders while you are absent. You probably already know all of these points. Most of them are common sense, but rereading the information could remind you of safety steps you can take to minimize your risk and enjoy your trip more.
Doors and Windows
Lock all windows and doors when you leave home even for a few minutes. A professional burglar can be in and out of a home in less than 10 minutes.
Take extra precautions to secure windows. A burglar cannot open a double hinged window from the outside when a nail or pin is inserted through the inside frame. Just drill a downward slanting hole through both frames where the frames overlap. Slip a nail or pin into the hole.
Put a dowel or an old broomstick in doorwall tracks. Or even better, install a pin device through the center supports. This inhibits sliding the door open. Doorwalls are a danger though, because most can be popped out of their tracks and removed easily.
Pay careful attention to doors. Some crime prevention experts advise that doors be locked even when you are moving around inside your home. Use a dead-bolt lock with a one-inch throw, a 5- or 6-pin tumbler cylinder and a cylinder guard. If a burglar can't get your doors open because of your deadbolt, even if he can get himself in, he might not be able to get large items out. Make sure all doors, especially back and side doors, are kick-proof. They should be constructed of solid wood or metal. Exterior Items Vacations take planning, especially when it comes to discouraging a burglar. The best way to deal with home security is to make it appear that you are at home. Stop all deliveries and newspapers, ask the Post Office to hold mail and have a neighbor pick up whatever winds up in your mailbox or on your doorstep. Trim back shrubs so any suspicious activity can be seen from the street or sidewalk. Don't provide a convenient hiding place for lurkers.
Clean up the exterior of your home. Do not leave in plain sight ladders or other items which allow easy access to your second floor windows and porch roofs.
Put away all sports equipment and tools such as hammers and heavy wrenches that could be used to easily break a window. This won't foil professionals, but it may inhibit impulsive acts by opportunists.
Have the grass cut or snow removed. Snow piled up at your front door or an unkempt lawn is an open invitation to a burglar.
Deceptions
Try to make it sound as if someone is home. Turn on the television, a stereo, or a radio talk show before you leave. Lights make the difference at night. The best bet is to install an automatic timer that turns lights, radios and TVs on and off in a lifelike pattern. Most people use timers only for vacations, but it is just as important to set them during your regular nights out. Sensors that turn on outdoor lights when someone approaches your home are also a good investment and not very expensive.
Ask a neighbor to come in and rearrange the drapes and window shades and reschedule the automatic timers.
Consider getting a dog -- one that loves to bark at strangers. The dog does not have to be big to be effective. A noisy little dog can be a big deterrent to crime. Some variety stores and mail-order catalogs sell devices that simulate dog-barking. Obviously, these are appropriate protection devices for the times when you Wouldn’t leave a dog at home unattended.
Have Others Watch Your Home
Take extra precautions if you are away all day every day. Most burglaries occur during the day when occupants are not home. Notify your neighbors that you will be away. Impress on them that you are expecting no furniture or appliance deliveries. Any cars or trucks in your driveway are unexpected and should be reported to the police.
If you have an alarm system, be sure to notify the alarm company when you will be away for more than a day. With or without an alarm, also notify the police of your travel plans.
General Preventative Maintenance
Place valuable small items such as jewelry and coin collections in a safety deposit box. There are few really good hiding places in your home that an experienced burglar couldn’t find. They all know the freezer and dryer hiding
places!
Marking high-risk items can be both a deterrent and a means of recovery. Engrave your driver's license number on televisions, stereos, cameras, etc. An engraving tool is often available through the local police department.
If you happen to wake up or come home to find a burglar present, don't try to stop him from stealing and don't panic. The sooner he gets what he wants, the sooner he will leave. |
