The best magazine
And although investing in a state-of-the-art security system is a wise thing to do, remember to apply some basic principals to keep your home safe and sound.
Burglary is often the criminal's full time job and many are well-qualified for their work.
So to stay a step ahead of the bad guys, you will want to cover all your bases and apply some practical applications to keep the criminals away.
1.
Participate in a neighborhood watch.
This basic principal simply means to take notice of who comes and goes on your block and be on the watch for suspicious cars and strangers approaching your neighbor's doors.
You look out for them and they will do the same for you.
2.
Change your locks if you have lost your keys, even if you are uncertain if they were lost inside or outside of the home.
3.
Cut your mail service off when you will be away for more than two days.
And if your neighborhood is subject to flyers being placed on the doors, ask a neighbor to come daily and remove them along with any newspapers lying in your driveway.
The accumulation of junk mail is a tell tale sign that nobody is home.
4.
Use shatterproof glass on windows occupying an obscure position on the property.
This extra strength glass cannot be hammered and smashed for a quick entry when nobody is home.
Yet the glass is perfectly safe for an emergency exit as it can be opened with a lock as any other type of window.
The extra strength glass can be costly, but if you keep your investment limited to the problem areas, the deterrent has done its job.
5.
Sensor outdoor lighting is a cost effective way to illuminate only when its necessary.
The sensor tracks may be programmed to recognize certain heights to detect a human rather than a small animal.
No crook wants to take center stage with the spotlight, and a outdoor lighting system is just the trick to stop them cold in their tracks.
6.
When allowing so-called inspectors or hired help into your home, be sure you look out the window for a company vehicle.
Just because someone is wearing an official looking jumpsuit with a name tag does not mean he was truly sent by the city to enter your back gate.
This same principal also applies to those with a police uniform; make sure you see the squad car parked outside.
7.
To make your property less attractive to sneaky thieves, be sure you remove excess bushes from the prime hiding areas.
This includes below the window frames and close proximity to the points of entry.
You do not want to be fumbling with your house keys at night and be taken by surprise by the bogey man in the bushes.
8.
When hiring a cleaning service, be sure you go with a reputable agency that affirms that their workers are bonded.
This will cut down on the opportunity for latent crime, even if the cleaner has not been to your home for a year.
The bonded employees undergo a background check and are fingerprinted for security reasons.
9.
Never hand your house keys over to a parking valet service, but rather remove them when you give him your car keys.
It takes only minutes to create a new key or duplicate with a plastic mold, and you never want a stranger to have access to the keys to your kingdom.
10.
And most importantly, never open your door to a stranger, no matter how innocuous they may seem.
Crooks will often work in teams with a shy and demure female as the bait.
If they ask for a drink of water or to use the phone, you may count this as a home invasion team trying to gain access through an opened front door.
Get their license number if you can and report the incident immediately to your sheriff.
Source: ...