It is one of those things that you believe could never happen to you — until it does. Your home can be broken into, your belongings can be stolen, and you can be in danger if you confront a burglar in your home. It is important to recognize the threat and do what you can to stay safe.
Whether you own your home out in the country or rent an apartment in the city, there are a few security basics that you should know.
- When you move into a new place, change all the locks immediately.
- Make certain windows are locked. It might seem like a no-brainer, but many people forget to lock the windows after they close them!
- If you have an alarm system, make sure all the wiring is hidden. This prevents would-be thieves from cutting the lines.
- Use deadbolts instead of spring-latch locks.
- Never leave notes for delivery people on the door. This is an open invitation to thieves that screams “I’m not home — come on in!”
- Plug your lights into a timer so they come on at night while you are away, and thus make the house look “lived in.”
- Don’t list your full name on the mailbox, and keep your phone number unlisted. If you must list your name, use only your last name and your first initial.
- The sound of a barking dog is often enough to deter intruders. If you love dogs, now might be the time to get one!
- Avoid installing doors with glass panels. A burglar could break the glass, reach in, and turn the doorknob…and just like that, they’re in.
- If you have a glass patio door, reinforce it by setting a metal bar in the bottom track of the door slide. The bar should be the same length as the door. This will prevent anyone from opening the door from the outside.
- Always keep your garage locked, even when you don’t have a car inside.
- When you are on vacation, ask your neighbors to pick up your newspaper and mail. Also invite them to use your trash cans, so it won’t appear that you are gone.
- Try to break into your own house. Lock up the place as if you were leaving for a long trip, and then try to find a way in without using a key. If you can find a weakness, it’s a sure bet a thief can too — so take notes on what works!
Keeping your home safe is important to your financial bottom line and your peace of mind. Start now by checking those locks!
