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Steps to Summer Home Security
Authorities say that burglary is probably the most preventable of all crimes. Even so, a burglar enters a home every 11 seconds in the United States according to the FBI. Here are a few steps you can take to discourage burglaries at your home, especially if you plan to be away on vacation.
Show no evidence of being away. Use automatic times for lights and radios to give the appearance that you are at home. Have a trusted neighbor, family member or friend collect newspapers and mail, preferably soon after delivery. Make arrangements for the lawn to be mowed and leave a car parked in the driveway.
Make sure that all doors and windows are locked, especially garage or workshop doors and that all tools and ladders are put away. You wouldn’t want to supply the tools necessary for the break-in on-site. If you have a security system, make sure it is turned on. Outdoor motion-detector lights may be an inexpensive addition if you have no inside security system. Installing heavy-duty deadbolts and locks can also be a good investment, but they are only as good as the door or window frames to which they are attached. Solid wood or metal are best, and make sure doors’ hinges are on the inside so they cannot be removed.
Engrave valuables with your driver’s license number, the number police have easily accessible. Don’t put your name on your mailbox or home so a burglar can look up your name and address in the phonebook and call to see whether or not you are home. Don’t hide a key in the mailbox, under the doormat or a flower pot, or over the door. Do hide your valuables in unsuspecting places.
Nosey neighbors are a great deterrent to burglary. Get acquainted with your neighbors and keep an eye on one another’s homes. Beware of dog signs may also scare off timid would-be burglars.
Privacy fences, overgrown shrubbery and darkness also provide privacy for criminals. Make entrances to your home as visible as possible to deter crime.
In short, anything you can do to make your home less inviting to a burglar may help avoid a crime at your home. Thieves aim to get in an out as quickly as possible. If you can slow them down or discourage for just a few seconds, they may move on to a more vulnerable-looking place.