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Burglars won't find your home an "easy mark" if
they are forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time
breaking in, or if they can't break in without making a lot of noise.
Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break
into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere.
Most insurance companies provide 2 percent to 15 percent discounts for
devices that make a home safer—dead-bolt locks, window grates, bars and
smoke/fire/burglar alarms.
However, when improving the security of your home, don't exchange
security for personal safety. Don't make your home such a fortress that
you are unable to escape in case of a fire or other emergency.
 Check
your home for weaknesses and correct them
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Take the time to "case" your house or apartment,
just as a burglar would. Where is the easiest entry? How can you
make it more burglar-resistant?
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Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows, and
think carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your
back yard. High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but
can also be an asset to a burglar. Consider trading a little extra
privacy for a bit of added security.
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Force any would-be burglar to confront a real
enemy—light. Exterior lights and motion detectors, mounted out of
easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting.
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Simple security devices—nails, screws, padlocks,
door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts—can increase the
amount of time it takes to break into your home.
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Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective
ones also ring at an outside service.
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Are any of your valuables—paintings, a silver
collection or a computer—easy to see from outside the house?
Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it makes your
home less inviting to criminals.
Simple
security steps
Doors
Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors should be metal or solid
hardwood, and at least 1 3/4 inches thick. Frames must be made of
equally strong material, and each door must fit its frame securely. Even
the most efficient lock, if it is placed in a weak door, will not keep
out a determined burglar.
A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for identifying
visitors than a door chain.
Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy to
open, but you have these doors, you can find special locks for them. A
broomstick in the door channel can also help, but cannot be depended on.
Locks
Deadbolt locks are best. They usually are locked with a key from the
outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder (where the key is
inserted) should be pick-resistant. Ask your hardware dealer for a
reputable brand or buy your locks from a locksmith.
Windows
Key locks are available for all types of windows. Double-hung windows
can be secured simply by "pinning" the upper and lower frames together
with a nail, which can be removed from the inside.
For windows at street level or on fire escapes, consider installing
metal accordion gates.
Home
security habits
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Establish a routine to make certain that doors
and windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on.
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Avoid giving information to unidentified
telephone callers and announcing your personal plans in want ads or
public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items
for sale).
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Notify the police if you see suspicious strangers
in your area.
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Don't carry house keys on a key ring bearing your
home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial
parking lot or with an attendant.
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Don't hide your keys in "secret" places outside
your home—burglars usually know where to look.
Vacation tips
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Leave blinds open in their usual position.
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Have mail and packages picked up, forwarded or
held by the post office.
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Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and
answering machine so they can't be heard outside.
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Arrange to have your lawn mowed in summer and
your walk and driveway shoveled in winter.
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Stop newspaper deliveries.
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Ask a friend to pick-up "throw-away" newspapers
and circulars.
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Use automatic timers to turn lights on and off in
various parts of the house at appropriate times. Consider connecting
a radio to a timer.
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Tell police and dependable neighbors when you
plan to be away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch
on what's happening in your area—working closely with them is a good
way to prevent crime.
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