"A Friendly Authoritative Presence"

By taking some relatively simple, inexpensive precautions, you can help make your home a difficult, less attractive target for thieves - and a more secure environment for you and your loved ones. Here are some tips for safeguarding your home.

Indoors

Security Systems...
An alarm system is an excellent deterrent to crime. More than 90% of the convicted burglars interviewed in a University of Miami study said they would avoid breaking into a home with an alarm.
Display security system decals on your windows and doors. Your security system should include a loud siren, sensors on both the front and back doors, and motion sensors in the master bedroom (where thieves search for cash, jewelry and guns) and the living/family room (where thieves look for valuable electronics).
Locks...
Lock all doors and windows, even if you're just running a short errand during the day. Most home burglaries occur between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Deadbolt locks provide the best security. High quality, name-brand locks are well worth the investment. If you choose double-cylinder deadbolt locks (the kind that require keys on both the outside and inside), keep the key where everyone in the house can reach it quickly incase of fire. You can leave the key in the lock if there isn't any glass in the door or a window within 40" of the lock, where someone could smash the glass and grab the key.
Window Coverings...
Leave your curtains slightly parted. Drapes or shades that are fully closed give a deserted look to a home or apartment.
Lighting...
Put your lights, TV and stereo on timers. Stagger the times they'll go on and off while you are away so it looks and sounds as if someone is home. Consider installing outdoor floodlights that are motion activated. Make sure these are placed where burglars can't easily tamper with them.
Valuables...
Keep valuables away from the windows so burglars can't see them from outside. Use an etching tool to mark your valuables with an easily identifiable number, such as your driver's license number and state abbreviation. This helps police identify your property and makes the valuables harder for the thief to sell. The etching tool is a minor expense, and many local police departments will even lend them to you for free. Prepare a household inventory of all your belongings and any serial numbers. Keep it updated and store it somewhere other than your house, such as a safe deposit box, so it will not be destroyed in a fire or other disaster.
Keys...
Don't hide a key in the mailbox, under the doormat or above the doorway. These are the first places thieves look. Don't put your name or address on your key ring. When you leave your car with a parking lot attendant or auto service shop, give them only your car keys. Buy a key chain that allows you to separate your house keys from your car keys easily. If there's a chance a former owner or tenant might still have the key to your home, change the locks.

Outdoors

Mail and Other Home Deliveries...
Have your mail held at the post office when you leave town. Full mailboxes make it clear to burglars that no one is home. Stop your paper delivery until you return from vacation. Ask a friend or neighbor to pick up any packages or flyers left outside while your away.
Driveways and yards...
If possible, leave a car parked in your driveway when you go on vacation. Ask a friend or neighbor to use the driveway in your absence, or to change your car's position every couple of days. Have your lawn mowed or leaves raked while you are away so your house appears inhabited. Trim trees and shrubs so burglars have fewer places to hide.
Exterior doors and windows...
Replace hollow-core doors with solid wood, fiberglass or steel. The best locks in the world are useless if installed on weak doors. Make sure your door's hinges are on the inside. If the hinges are on the outside, a burglar can easily remove the pins and take the door down. Secure your double-hung windows by bolting the sashes together or placing a metal bar in the track. Add security to your sliding glass doors, which often have weak locks. Installing a bolt lock will help prevent the door from being slid open or lifted out of its track. Install a bar on the door to a basement or garage and install bars on basement windows to keep out burglars.
Strangers...
Install peepholes in your exterior doors, and don't open the door to someone you don't know. Don't trust a safety chain, which can be broken easily with force. When service representatives come to your door, ask for identification. If they don't have an appointment, call their employer for verification while they wait outside. Don't tell strangers or casual acquaintance that you're going out of town. Although they may seem trustworthy, you'd be surprised how quickly the news spreads.
Garages...
Unless your garage door opener is fairly new and has an individualized frequency code, you should have changed the code when you installed the garage door or bought your house. If you didn't, individualized your code today by removing the covers from the transmitter and receiver and resetting the switches. You'll avoid being the next victim of burglars who drive around with common transmitters, clicking them until a garage door opens. Keeping your garage locked is as important as keeping your home locked, especially if the garage is attached. Once inside the garage, a burglar can work uninterrupted at getting into your house. A deadbolt lock is particularly important here.
Trash...
Burglars look for empty outdoor garbage cans, knowing that occupied homes produce garbage at least every few days. When you're away from home, have a neighbor put some trash in your receptacles or, if your garbage is picked up curbside, have them put a few bags in front of your house.
Neighborhood Watch Programs...
These are programs designed by and for local community residents to help ensure the safety of all those living in the area. Neighbors who watch out for one another are a great defense against crime. Join your Neighborhood Watch program or consider starting one in your neighborhood. Notify the police immediately of any suspicious people, trucks or cars in the neighborhood. Don't worry about being a nuisance. The police will welcome your call and the opportunity to prevent a burglary.
Make an effort to meet your neighbors...
Check on older relatives and friends from time to time, and make sure their security devices and smoke detectors are working. Burglars choose homes that appear unoccupied and easy to access. It's your job to convince a would-be burglar that your home is difficult to enter and that someone is always home. By following the tips listed above, you will help discourage thieves and make your home and your neighborhood a safer place to live.