Keep your home and neighborhood safer by following these simple safety tips:
Leave your outside and porch lights on at night. If your neighborhood is dimly lit, ask your local authorities to add street lights or burnt out bulbs. When you're not at home, leave one or two lights on in different rooms inside your house, or use a timer.
Reliable dead bolt door locks and sturdy window latches will help prevent break-ins.
Keep the hedges next to your house trimmed at a level no higher than the window sill. Otherwise, would-be burglars will have a place to hide.
Peepholes with magnifying lenses let you see who's at your door before you open it, never leave notes on your door, even if you're at home.
Permanently marked items make it easier for the police to trace and return stolen items. Social Security numbers or driver's license numbers work best. Keep a record of marked objects.
To give the appearance someone's home park another car in your driveway or ask a neighbor to park there while you’re gone. This also prevents burglars from backing a van into the driveway for easy loading.
If you leave a spare key somewhere outside, be creative and be smart! In your flower pots, under welcome mats and on window ledges is where burglars will look first.
Have a neighbor collect newspapers and mail while you’re out of town. Consider hiring someone to take care of your lawn, or a house sitter for extended absences. Above all, tell your neighbors when you will leave and when you will return.
Get involved. Team up with other concerned homeowners from your neighborhood and form a crime watch program. Your local police can help you get started.
Get a dog if practical. 44% or surveyed burglars say that the sound of a barking dog would stop them from breaking into a home.
Install a home security system and use it daily. Never leave home without arming your security system.