HomeSecurityTips.Info - Burglary Protection

Burglary Protection

Securing Doors

Always install doors made of metal or solid wood. Hollow core doors are easily broken through.
Add deadbolts to the top and bottom of every sliding glass door, and use double-sided key locks on doors with windows within 40” of the door.
Chain locks on doors are not strong – better protect yourself with a doorstop that screws into the floor.
Always have a peephole on your front door.

Use metal pins to keep windows from opening too wide from the outside. Make sure the pins are easily removed in the event of an emergency.
Never use window bars unless they have a quick release mechanism. Window bars are extremely dangerous in the event of a fire.

Trim all bushes to waist level so windows and doors are visible to neighbors.
Prune trees so thieves are unable to climb them to gain access to second story windows. Make sure trees have no branches lower than six feet.
Plant thorny plants along fences and under windows – these will discourage intruders.
Put large-sized gravel under windows against the house – the noise will deter intruders.
Lock your gates and fences. Metal gates and fences are best because of the noise they create when opened.
Exposed phone lines should be buried.
Never leave anything – ladders, large lawn furniture, garbage cans – in your yard that could be used to gain entry to your home.
Use motion detector lights near doors and in darker spots of your home’s perimeter. Burglars do not like light.
Do not hide keys outside – an intruder will know all the hiding spots.

Never leave your garage door opener in a car parked outside your home.
Keep ladders and yard equipment in a locked storage facility.
A garage should always be securely locked, especially if it is attached to the home.
Have a deadbolt on the door from your garage to your home.

The five places a thief will look for valuables include – the master bathroom, the closet, your dresser drawers, an underwear drawer and a nightstand.
Keep a list of all your belongings and store that list outside of your home. This list can be useful in the event of a burglary or fire.
When keeping a home inventory list, include the manufacturer name and model number for each of your appliances.
Mark all expensive equipment with a personal identification number such as a driver’s license number. Do not use a social security number.

When out for the evening, leave a few lights on, and possibly a television or radio. Intruders look for homes with one small light on inside, which is a clue that the home is unoccupied.
When going out of town, put a few different lights and a television or radio on timers.
Do not keep large sums of money in your home.
Never leave notes on your door – this indicates that the home is unoccupied.
Use a generic answering machine message – do not indicate your name or your home phone number.
When leaving town, be careful whom you tell.
Have a trusted neighbor or relative collect your mail when away. Do not have mail or newspaper delivery stopped when you are away – you never know who will get that information.