Your home should be a safe and secure
environment, but you need to take precautions to ensure that
it remains that way! A break-in can rob you not only of your valuable
possessions but also your peace of mind and feeling of security,
and if you are assaulted you might possibly lose your life.
One of the best deterrents to a break-in
is good outdoor lighting. Floodlights or spotlights should
flood the outside of your home in all directions, especially behind
bushes or trees where intruders may hide. Keep trees and bushes
trimmed to make it more difficult for a burglar to conceal himself.
Keep your outside doors locked at
all times, especially if you live in a high-crime area, affluent
neighborhood, or live alone. Use cylindrical dead-bolt locks
at the top and bottom of the doors. Surface-mounted dead-bolt locks
are an easy do-it-yourself project. Tubular dead-bolt locks are
even more secure but may require a key to open them from the inside.
Keep the key in an accessible place in case of an emergency.
If other people may have keys that
fit your outside door locks, such as a previous owner or tenant,
have the locks changed. Never give a key to a workman, repairman,
or other household help; they could have a copy made.
Lock windows or secure them with a
steel bolt. If you like fresh air while you sleep, drill a hole
near the top of the side edge of the bottom sash, then raise the
window about three or four inches and drill a hole in the top sash
so that the holes line up. Place a steel rod through both holes.
Don't use a wooden dowel which could be broken in two. This
allows you to raise the window for air circulation while preventing
an intruder from coming in through an open window.
Sliding doors may be secured
with a broom handle cut to the length of the door track, to prevent
them from being forced open.
Locks may deter an amateur thief but
only slow down a professional. Home security systems don't
have to be expensive. Compact, inconspicuous door and window alarms
can be used in most homes to alert you if someone is trying to break
in. A wireless intercom system will allow you to hear noise or activity
in other rooms. These devices can keep you and your family safe
without breaking the bank!- J. E. Davidson
