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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
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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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