The #1 crime prevention tip I can give you is get a security system! It puts a time limit on an intrusion! You can now buy your own wireless security system for around $250 and monitor it for $15 a month! No Contracts, No Commitments, No Phone Line or Internet connection needed! Check out this video!!!
The #2 crime prevention tip is: Change the locks on your doors so they can’t be picked or bumped! There are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube teaching crooks how to break into your property! You really need to read my article on “lock bumping“!
The #3 crime prevention tip is: Reinforce your door jambs! The #1 way a burglar gets into your home is by kicking it in! It takes just a second and by the time someone looks they are already inside and have closed the door! Once the door is closed everything looks normal because all the damage is on the inside! Read my article on “Door Jamb Failure“!
The #4 crime prevention tip is: Install patio door locks and bars! Most sliding glass doors can be lifted right out of the track! So never rely on just the door latch only! Read my article on installing “Patio Door Locks“!
The #5 crime prevention tip is: Share this page with the world! Together we can make a difference through awareness! Click on one or more of the social share buttons below and spread the word!
Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!
Take photographs of all your equipment and stored items!
Take photos of the serial numbers, makes, and models. If every you have a burglary this will be a very important thing you will need to provide to Police and the insurance company! Keep the receipt for your stuff so you can show the purchased price and the age of the items that you purchased! Make sure that your insurance will cover the items in your shop. If not get a rider that will cover it! If you have a security system it will be really cheap to cover your stuff. And it’s a tax deduction. Check both your contractors insurance or homeowners policy to see if either cover your stuff! Store photos, receipts, and serial numbers in a fire proof safe in a separate location, like at home! Bolt that safe to the floor somewhere besides your master bedroom closet! That is the first place a burglar looks when he robs a home!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #2)
Mark your equipment using a UV marker or permanent marker!
Use your drivers license number as a way for Police to get your info if they recover your property. Items that are marked are harder to pawn off for cash, and if clearly marked may just be left behind. Marking property with UV allows there to be a marking that will most likely be overlooked should a criminal try to remove a visible marking! You can also engrave your ID number with an engraving tool to make it more permanent!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #3)
Install better locks on all the exterior doors!
Many locks can be bumped in just second with bump keys that are bought on the internet or are hand made. See the article and videos on “Lock Bumping” here! Lock bumping has become a serious problem that hurt you two ways. First it allows your building to be broken into quickly. Second it leaves no sign of a break in, making it hard to get paid through your insurance company! Most garages have one main door entrance, so installing one anti bump deadbolt lock will only cost you around $35! This is a great investment in securing your property!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #4)
Install a door reinforcement kit!
Upgrading your locks will do little for your garage or workshop security if the door can be kicked in. Door kicking has become the number one way that a burglar gets into a building! Most door frames will fail with just a single kick! There are many product out there to reinforce a door frame! See the article and videos on “Door Jamb Failure” here! If you opt to get just a lock side frame reinforcement kit than install longer 3″ screws in all the hinge side screw holes!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #5)
Install excellent lighting around your shop!
Lighting is a great deterrent that will chase off most intruders. Install your lighting out of reach or as high as possible. They make several types of motion activated lights now. The newer motion lights have a dimmer setting that stays on from dusk to dawn. When someone approaches the building they go to full brightness! With the advances in lighting technology you can get energy efficient bulbs or even led bulbs that are cheap to run! They also have many years of life in them.
Garage & workshop Security Tip #6)
Secure your windows!
Many garage windows are off to the side of the building and give an easy way in that is out of view of neighbors and roads! Personally since your not living there I would put a bar or two across each window! You don’t need anything fancy! An old bed rail cut down will work just fine to keep the bad guys out! If you have a few dollars you can get window security film which will keep the glass from being broken easily!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #7)
Secure the garage door!
The main garage door will be needed for a burglar to get your stuff out quickly and into a truck! Get a large anti bump pad lock and just click it over the track of the garage door. By doing this you keep the door from being lifted and stop this opening from being used! Also take a peek at the article on “Garage Break Ins” here!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #8)
Install a security system!
There is now a security system that is made for just this application! Cost starts at $200 and pro monitoring is just $15 per month! There are no contracts and the monitoring connects through the cellular towers! No phone or internet lines are needed. This system installs in 15 minutes and is completely wireless except for the power cord! For $200 you can cover two entry points! If you want a motion sensor add $30. If you have additional openings to secure add $15 per opening! Click here to “Customize Your Own System”! The main Page of my site will tell you more about this system & have demo videos! Click here “AlarmMySpace” for the videos! Make sure to secure the base station in a place that it will take at least 30 seconds to get to! This system will notify the alarm monitoring station 30 seconds after it is triggered! They will then call you and then you both should call the Police if it is an unknown alarm triggering. A call from the owner will be treated more seriously by the police than a call from the monitoring station alone!
Garage & workshop Security Tip #9)
Install a security camera!
They make wireless systems that can be installed and will record for seven days before repeating over the same hard drive. That means you install the wireless camera and DVR and then leave it be. There are no tapes or Cd’s to swap out! Plus they make an upgraded DVR system and service that allows you to monitor your garage or workshop from any computer or laptop! The above security system (Tip #8) will soon have an add on camera that will allow you to do this cheaper than getting a complete video surveillance system! However, if you have a few bucks and a good operation you may want to install a separate video surveillance system for greater security! Remember to secure the DVR unit somewhere it can’t be stolen or destroyed in the event or a burglary! Post a sign saying, “area under video surveillance”.
Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!
How to better secure your apartment with these 17 security tips!
Apartment Security Tips
Tip #1)
Install an apartment security system! (YES YOU CAN!)
* 3M removable adhesive allows for no mark removal!
* Comes pre programmed for a quick 10 minutes install!
* You purchase a system for around $200 and then customize the system sensors to your apartments needs, extra door sensors are $15 each, motion sensors are $30 each…
* The average apartment needs just the basic system and the added motion sensor. Cost of $230… You then own the system and can monitor it at your own digression!
* Pay just $15 a month for monitoring. Turn service on or off as needed! Take the system with you when you move!
* 3 year warranty on the system and it’s parts!
* No contracts, no commitments, no phone or internet lines needed!
* Connects cellular to monitoring station, included in $15 monitoring fee!
* Uses lithium batteries in sensors, base station needs basic power only!
* Uses multiple passwords, has key chain remote control bypass/trigger!
You can even try it out! Test drive the SimpliSafe system for 60 days… If you are unhappy they will send you a box, postage paid! SimpliSafe offers the best trial period and warranty in the industry!
Reinforce all exterior door frames! Changing out the locks with bump proof locks is not enough! Door kicking has become the number one method that burglars use to enter apartments and homes! Watch the videos and read the full article on “Door Jamb Failure“! Now you don’t need to install door jamb armor for an apartment, but you do need to install some sort of jamb reinforcement! The idea is to make it more difficult to penetrate the perimeter of the apartment! If an intruder gets in he can grab stuff and be gone in just a few minutes! It does make a little noise kicking in a door! The problem is that by the time your neighbor look they will already be inside. Worse, all the damage will be to the inside of the frame and on the outside everything will look just fine! Make sure you have a solid door as opposed to a hollow core door! If it’s a hollow door it could be a code violation in your township or city! It needs to be changed!
Tip #3)
Reinforce your sliding glass door! Many sliding glass doors can be lifted right out of the tracks! If you haven’t seen the videos or read the article on “Installing Patio Door Locks” (click here)! There are several defects is a patio door. First, never depend on the handle lock as your main security feature! Second, install a pin lock or a track lock if the slider can be lifted straight up and out of the track! Third, I would install a pole or board in the track so the door can’t be slid open at all!
Tip #4)
Install better locks on windows that can be reached without a ladder! Always make sure your windows are locked, reachable or not! If you have sliding windows you can install a board in the track just like the patio door! Make sure that the window can’t just be lifted out of the track! If you have windows that are single hung windows (one window sides up or down). You can cut a board and put it on top to trap it from opening! Make sure you cut the board so it fits from corner to corner! The best way to secure a window is with a window pin or screw through both frames!
Tip #5)
Get permission to install better locks on all the exterior doors! Many apartment tip lists will tell you to make sure the locks have been changed! I’m telling you to make sure they have been upgraded too! Purchase upgraded locks that cannot be bumped or picked! If you haven’t seen the videos or read the article on “Lock Bumping” (click here)! Lock bumping has become a major threat to the security of every building out there, especially apartments! Apartments make easy targets for burglars. In facts, national statistics rank apartment burglaries higher than owned residences! An apartment is just easier to scope out.
Tip #6)
Install a safe and lock up expensive items! If you have cash, jewelry, guns, etc… Lock them up in a safe that is secured to a closet wall or floor! If you get a big enough safe you can get away without bolting it to something! I was robbed in an apartment a few years back and had a 90lb safe! They carried it right out the front door! Make sure it is a real pain in the ass to carry away! By the way… The safe was empty!
Tip #7)
If you have a laptop, put it between the towels or blankets in a closet when you go out! Losing a computer is a really sad thing! Above I joked about the burglars getting an empty safe. But they also got two laptops, and external DVD burner, and some other electronics! I didn’t have the SimpliSafe security system for $15 a month!
Tip #8)
When you go out leave lights and a TV on! Don’t just leave your kitchen sink light on! That is the most common light that people leave on when they go out! If you are just leaving a few lights on then leave the bathroom and bedroom lights on! You can install timers to turn lights on automatically!
Tip #9)
Don’t ever leave notes on the door or a copy of your key hidden outside your unit! This is a really bad idea! Notes on a door just scream, I’m not home come and rob me! And leaving a key outside just defeats the whole idea of apartment security!
Tip #10)
Know the facts! Apartment are more likely to get robbed than home are! That is because they are an easier target! The most common items that are stolen during a burglary are laptops, jewelry, cash, game systems, i-pods, and guns! The majority of burglaries happen during the day, not at night! I know that one shocked me too! The most common way a burglar gets in is by kicking in the door! SimpliSafe has an 85 decibel alarm that goes off 30 seconds after the perimeter is breached! And they are coming out with a camera that will take video in Sept. 2011! There is an add on wireless siren that has 105 decibels! A smart way to put a time limit on an intrusion!
Tip #11)
Install a peep hole on your apartment door! For this you will need permission, if you already have one make sure it is clean and usable! Always check to see who is there before you open the door! If you get the SimpliSafe security system there is a key chain remote that has a panic button! you could use this to trigger the alarm if needed. There are also panic alarm buttons, you get one with the apartment alarm package, and for $20 you could get one for the front door too!
Tip # 12)
If you have a security door that leads to a hallway of apartments, make sure it stays closed and is locked! If it is constantly being propped open notify management! If that doesn’t solve the problem put your complaint in writing and try again! If that doesn’t work, notify a landlord-tenant action group for help! You have a lease and are entitled to a safe atmosphere to live in!
Tip #13)
Lucky number thirteen is to be careful when using public laundry rooms, public storage areas, and trash areas! If you have to go to a dumpster take your car and if you have an alarm system use your remote as a defensive device! Take trash out while it is still light out! Report out lights within your complex and in laundry and storage areas! Report all security concerns to management in writing! Always keep a copy of things you put in writing to a landlord or management!
Tip #14)
Get renters insurance it’s really cheap! Take photos of all the items that you have. Write down serial numbers for all the items that have value! Keep receipts for the stuff that you buy so you can show value! Mark your items with your driver license number in either permanent ink or invisible ink for identification!
Tip #15)
Make sure that your name is not written on your mailbox! The apartment number is enough or just a first name with a last initial! If a person has your last name and where you live they can search for information about you online! That could lead to a whole bunch of problems! Besides, you don’t know who lives around you! Bad people live in apartments too!
Make sure your smoke detectors are installed and working! Make sure that there are smoke detectors throughout the building in hallways and laundry areas and that they work! If you find any problems alert management or the landlord! If they don’t fix the problem call the fire chief of your local fire department or call code enforcement in your local city or township! Wireless smoke alarms are being added to the SimpliSafe security system in Sept. 2011!
I hope you like these apartment security tips!
Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!
A home that looks empty of people is a pleasing target for a burglar!
Vacation Security Tip #1)
The main idea here is to make your home appear lived in! Burglars want to target homes that are empty of people! The best security strategy is to appear to a burglar as a harder target than the house down the street! Burglars are looking to get in and out undetected. A burglar is different from a robber! A robber holds you up, while a burglar sneaks in while you are away! A burglar that is discovered while in your home get a charge of aggravated burglary! The average time that a burglar does for a single offense is 2.5 years. In many cases the a first offense burglar will just get house arrest and a few years of probation! The punishment for this crime doesn’t pay for the inconvenience for lost property especially computers and personal information!
Vacation Security Tip #2)
Never tell strangers that you are going on vacation! Never post that you are going away via the internet, especially on social networks! Never leave a message on your phone that says you are going away! This is one of the mistakes that many people make when going on vacation! They leave detailed information on their home answering machine that they will be away for the next week and return on Sunday! Please don’t do this! Many burglar confess that they will scope a home more than once! They will try to get a home phone number by searching your address on the internet! Many people make this even easier because they post their last names on their mailbox or by the front door! A burglar that has your address and last name will soon know a lot about you! If you have your last name posted outside of your home, remove it! Burglars very commonly will call to see if you are home and even knock on the door to confirm that you are away! In this video is lots of great information! The part to really pay attention too is the interview with a convicted burglar! This guy robbed more than 600 homes and he will tell you what he looked for when selecting a home to rob! After the interview is some more great information about the rise in burglaries involving door jamb failure and door kicking! See my articles on “Door Jamb Failure” and “Lock Bumping“! And watch this short video!
Vacation Security Tip #3)
Forward your home phone to your cell phone. If you don’t want to do that, then turn the ringer all the way down so it can’t be heard from outside! Burglars want to verify that you are out! Many homes don’t have home phone lines any more unless they have the old style security systems! If you do, than its time to switch! Why pay $40 a month for a phone line and $40 a month for alarm service, when you can get it for $15 a month! SimpliSafe has come out with a cellular home alarm system that costs $15 a month to monitor and has no contract! When your contract is up, dump your current provider and get an updated system! Especially if you have an “all in one” alarm system! They are worthless alarm systems that are given away for free by several large security companies!
Vacation Security Tip #4)
Install light timers throughout the house and if there is a setting for random, use it! When you go out, leave a bathroom light on! Don’t just leave the light over the kitchen sink on! This is the most common light left on when someone goes out! It is important to give the impression that someone is home! Even though most burglaries happen during the day and not at night. There are still a significant number of burglaries that happen after dark! With today’s advances in energy efficient light bulbs and digital timers. You can set up lamps throughout your home that turn off and on everyday! The initial investment for this is cheap and it is a great security prevention idea to implement in your home security strategy! They also make timer switches that are installed where your light switches are! They make night light, light switches too that will give enough light to look like someone is home. This will also illuminate areas like hallways all night long! Also it is a good idea to put a timer on a radio so that it turns on and makes noise!
Vacation Security Tip #5)
Keep the outside of your home well lit even when you are home! Newer security lights have a setting that keeps them on low until motion is detected! The lights then brighten to illuminate the entire area! You should have exterior lighting that either stays on all night or goes on when movement is detected! This is one of the most important thing you can do to increase your homes exterior security! Any area that is dark and has an access point into your home should be illuminated!
Vacation Security Tip #6)
Keep your blinds closed whenever possible! At night a single light inside allows someone outside to see in very well! A burglar is after items they can get cash for! If they can see in they may see something they want! The most commonly stolen items are laptops, game systems, jewelry, guns, cash, and flat screen TV’s! Having your window curtains open allows a burglar to make a decision based on potential gain verses rick! As stated above, the average first offense burglary doesn’t even do time! It is up to you to protect what you have, our legal system has failed us! Police arrest people and they are back on the streets before dinner! It is up to us as homeowners to implement these security strategies to deter criminal from targeting us!
Vacation Security Tip #7)
Don’t stop deliveries, services like grass cutting, newspapers, or mail! Have newspapers, deliveries, and mail picked up by a friend! The less people that know you are going away the better, alerting services that you will be away may backfire! Make sure your home looks lived in while you are away. Having a neighbor or friend park in the driveway is a good idea. If you leave one of your own cars in the driveway, make sure it is locked and the garage door remote is removed! You should also have the car moved around a few times while you are away! Make sure the grass is cut or will be cut while you are away! Nothing is more tempting to a burglar than a home that looks empty! Newspapers piling up, and grass getting tall is an inviting feature to a burglar.
Vacation Security Tip #8)
Make sure that all doors and windows are locked, including storm doors! Unplug the garage door and trap the garage door from being opened by blocking the track! Make sure that the inner garage door to the main house is locked. Lock all sheds and chain up exterior equipment! If you have a ladder outside, chain it up or put it in the garage! Ladders left outside give great opportunity to a burglar! If you haven’t seen the articles on “Door Jamb Failure” and “Lock Bumping“, check them out! These are the most common ways that a burglar or robber will get into your home! Many homes have very weak entrance points that can be breached in a matter of seconds! It’s important to secure these areas better than they are! Also read the articles on “patio door locks” and “stopping a garage door break in“!
Vacation Security Tip #9)
If you are part of a neighborhood watch notify them that you will be away! Don’t let them post this on the neighborhood watch website unless it is a secure site that you have to log into! If you don’t have a neighborhood watch, start one! Neighborhood that have a watch have 50% less crime. Plus neighbors that know each other will watch out for each other! See the article from the National Crime Prevention Counsel on “Starting a neighborhood Watch“! Also check out the website here for the National Crime Prevention Counsel (site map)! Or the main site link here! Also the national Face for the Neighborhood watch program is USA on Watch! There site is a great resource to check out! Also you can get a free website for your neighborhood watch program through Neighborhood Link!
Vacation Security Tip #10)
Turn on your security system! The greatest deterrent to stop a burglar in their tracks is a security system. If you don’t have a security system, what are you waiting for? They are dirt cheap these days! You can get a customized alarm system from SimpliSafe for around $300 that is wireless and cellular! Alarm monitoring is only $15 per month and there are NO Contracts! You can install this system in less than one hour! It used to be that home security systems where just for the rich. SimpliSafe manufactures their own system so they can keep the monthly monitoring costs down! Other companies just sell you monitoring so they have to trap you in a contract for three years! Plus big companies are ridiculous about their monthly fees, charging as much as $45 a month! SimpliSafe is changing all of that with a security system that the average person can afford to use to protect their property! The bottom 1/3 of the first page of this site is dedicated to the many features of this alarm system, see them here! AlarmMySpace! If you would rather just go and customize your own system now, click here – Customize a home security system!
Vacation Security Tip #11)
Make sure that personal information is stored where it can’t be found! Not only should you be worried about having physical items stolen, but personal information too! This is actually a potential greater threat! Many people have been robbed only to recover and then find out that their identity was stolen too! If you have information lying around of a sensitive nature lock it up! Don’t leave extra credit cards in a desk drawer where they can be taken. It’s easy to loose track of things like this. My recommendation is to get a safe and store these things in there! Make sure that the safe is bolted down so it can’t be removed! You can also get filing cabinets that are fire proof and have good locks! When you go away protect these things from being stolen! If you are robbed, immediately put a fraud alert on your credit related assets and notify your bank!
Vacation Security Tips #12)
Get a dog and one that barks! Burglars don’t like noise, so they will avoid homes that have dogs! Plus this will require a friend to check in on your home daily! Beside dog are awesome and they hear things well before you do! A dog is like a security guard that roams around your home and property and keeps you company. Weather you have a dog or not, post a sign that you do! A burglar that passes by is looking for an easy target. A sign that says, “beware of dog” is a great deterrent to getting robbed!
Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!
Safety starts with being aware of your surroundings!
Here is a list of some personal and family security tips!
* Always answer your telephone! Burglars like to check if you are home or not! If you don’t answer the phone a burglar that is scoping you property to break in may try! When you do answer the phone, don’t let the caller know that you are home alone or give any other personal information! You can add your phone number to the national do not call list registry through: www.donotcall.gov
* Always answer your doorbell or a knock at your door! Make sure you check through a peephole viewer to see who is outside your door. Never open your door to people you do not know! If you don’t have a door peep hole than install one. Install peep holes on all exterior doors including the inner garage door! If you have children, install a peephole that they can see through also! Make sure your children know not to open the door to strangers! Here is a link to a Lowe’s video on installing a peep hole or door viewer!
* If a service or repairmen comes to your home and they claim to be from a utilities company, call your utilities company! Make sure you verify their identity and why they are there with the dispatcher before opening the door. Don’t be afraid to keep the person waiting! They are on the clock, if they you have any doubt call the Police and have them come and verify the persons presence on your property!
* Make sure your kids know not to answer the door to strangers! Let your children know that it is OK to call the Police or a trusted adult for help! Have numbers for emergency services posted where your kids can get to them! Also post phone numbers for trusted adults! Have a test! Just like a fire drill, one parent knocks on the door and then have your kids physically call a trusted friend for advice! Make sure your kids don’t tell the person at the door that you are not there and they are alone! They can always say that you are busy and may be a few minutes!
* Be very careful about giving out information about yourself and where you live! Especially online through social networks, dating sites, by mail, or phone. Here is an article about burglars using social networks to target homes for a burglary!
* Never, never, never, put your name on your mailbox. With today’s technology a burglar can get your phone number through a web search! It is especially easy if they have your address and your last name! Have your number unlisted in the phone book and register with the do not call list above!
* Post emergency numbers near all of your telephones. Make sure that children know how to call for help and how to get a hold of you and other adults! If you trust your neighbors, list their numbers too! Join or start a neighborhood watch and get involved in your local community! Neighborhoods that have a watch are less likely to suffer property crimes! Here is a link: How to Start a Neighborhood Watch Program
* If you come home and find that a window or door has been broken in, stay out of the building! Call the Police and alert your neighbors that their is a problem at your home! Your home should be lit up at night! Don’t allow bushes and trees to over grow to the point that they offer cover for an attacker! If you have the SimpliSafe security system, then you will have a remote control key chain with panic button! If your car has an alarm, that can be used to as a self defense weapon!
Here is a video of the SimpliSafe “NO CONTRACT, CELLULAR CONNECTED” security system that you can own and then monitor for $15 a month! You Can start & stop service as needed because you own the system! Don’t get stuck in a 3 year contract with those other guys!
There is now a wireless, cellular connected no contract security system! You can now own your own wireless security system. Since there is no contract you can stop and start the alarm monitoring service as you need it! Just $15 a month! Try it risk free with there money back including the shipping guarantee!
Check your home for windows that are accessible from the outside, and make sure they are locked! Most homes these days have central air and many windows are closed almost year round! Make sure that if this example fits you, that those windows are locked! For windows you never or rarely open you can use a secondary lock like a pin lock or a screw through the 2 frames! Just don’t screw all the way through…
Home Security Tip #3) Check your door locks:
This is one of the best home security tips I can give you! Again this is an obvious thing, but people just go out all the time without making sure that doors are locked! If you have a security system arming it will back up a door that you forgot to lock. Research into how burglars gain entry into a home shows that they use a door! The number one mistake of those that do lock their doors is that they only lock the knob and not the dead bolt too! The door knob lock is not enough! A burglar can bypass this with ease! In fact if your door knobs are more than a few years old, you need to replace them with new “bump resistant” locks! I saw a video where a ten year old broke into a house in less than 10 seconds. She was put up to this and given a few minutes of training on how to use what they call bump keys! A bump key is a key that is ground down and inserted into a lock. The key is then tapped with a hammer in an effort to get the lock tumblers to bounce and fall into alignment! The user of the bump key just has to tap while putting a little pressure on the key in a turning direction! If this is done right the lock will just unlock and the burglar will just walk right in!
There is a whole article devoted to stopping lock bumping including videos! Read the article on “Lock bumping“!
Home Security Tip #4)Never have your name posted outside of your home:
Burglars look first before they touch! So your fist offense to burglary is to look like a harder target than the average home in your area! Having your name displayed gives more information to the passerby than is necessary!
Watch this video… In the middle is an interview with a convicted burglar that robbed 600 homes before he was caught! He tells what he looked for before actually choosing a target to rob!
Home Security Tip #5)Never leave notes on the door:
Leaving notes on a door just attracts attention! In fact people leave notes with checks and money for people that are stopping by! If you have to leave money or a check, leave it under a mat in a sandwich baggie or something! A burglar or even just a regular criminal could see a note and stop to check it out! Besides, leaving a note implies that you aren’t home and that is one of the criteria a burglar is trying to find out! Burglar are opportunists looking for the opportunity to rob you!
Home Security Tip #6)Never leave a spare key outside your home:
Burglars always check that first! A smart criminal knows to lift the mat and look for fake rocks! If you need to have a backup way into your home, get a door lock that uses a keypad or combination to unlock it! Or get a keypad opener for your garage door! There are better ways to gain entry to your home than to leave a key outside! A key could be stolen and then your home could be cased for the best time to really rob you blind! Leaving a key outside is just inviting trouble!
Home Security Tip #7)Get a safe:
This is one of the most important home security tips I can give you! These days safes are inexpensive and can serve several purposes! First, a safe serves to protect valuables that you own if you were robbed! Second, a safe can store valuable documents and even digital pictures in the event of a fire! The number one complaint after a homeowner has a fire is that they wished they still had the family photos! These days you can easily backup your photos and document to zip drives and store them in your safe! Third, I thought for a moment about mentioning this one! Then I felt obligated to say it. If you have prescription drugs, lock them up! These days TV makes our drugs and bad people look so cool! Kids see this and then they want to be just like them. If you have kids over 10 years old, lock up any pills that you have in your home! I know what you’re thinking… My ten year old knows better! Lock up the pills anyway! And if you have any weapons lock them up too! These days they make safes just for firearms that open with a quick combination of buttons pushed! Get that combo wrong three times and the safe just won’t open at all without a key! Make sure that you secure the safe to the wall or floor so it can’t be moved! If you have a burglar alarm system that has a panic button, you want to install one near the safe. If you are forced to open the safe, open it and when you are pushed aside make sure you are pushed towards the panic button!
Home Security Tip #8)Install light timers:
This is just a great idea in general! How many times have you come home and walked into a dark house? These days you can install special light switches that have timers built right into them! They can turn on foyer lights and maybe even a light in the den too! Nothing is more inviting then a pitch dark home that looks empty! Timers for lights are good too. These days you can get standard timers for fewer than ten bucks. You can get digital timers for just a few dollars more! Having your home lit up is a huge part of home security! Burglars like dark homes where they can get in undetected. Every step you take is an added deterrent!
Home Security Tip #9)Take photos of your valuables:
This serves two purposes! If you get robbed you may need to show proof of what you owned! And if you have a fire this will also be needed! Having photos of your most valued possessions also allows the police to see what they are looking for! Make sure you do this one, it’s important!
Home Security Tip #10)Check your homeowners insurance:
Call your agent and have him review your policy with you! Make sure he understands your concern of why you have insurance in the first place! Tell him that you don’t want any surprises in the event you get robbed or have a fire! He should be able to tell you what is covered and what is not. Also ask what you would need to present in the event something like this were to happen! Insurance companies are downright sneaky and they are really out for themselves and not you! An insurance company is your best friend as long as the checks are going their direction! In the event of a fire, my advice to you is to shut up when your agent sends the appraiser out! He is not your friend! He is there to limit the overall liability of his company to you! Also ask about robberies where there is no sign of forced entry! Like the above scenario where someone bumps a lock or finds a way in without leaving evidence of how they got in! Your insurance company could just leave you hanging and refuse your claim! This is another home security tip I hope you take seriously!
Home Security Tip #11)Install motion lights around your home:
Don’t go cheap here and get standard exterior motion light fixtures! Don’t get halogen tube style lights. Pay for quality bulbs if you have to have them installed up high! You can even get LED exterior bulbs that last many years, but they are expensive! When I say many years it’s like ten or more! The best investment you can put into your home security besides a security system is lighting! Install lights in every corner and dark area around your home!
Home Security Tip #12)Make your entry doors kick resistant:
One of the top ways a home is entered is through a doorway! Burglars just kick the door and the frame of the door splits out! You can install several types of plates that reinforce a doors frame and increase your home security! Remember it’s about making your home a harder target! If a burglar kicks your door and it doesn’t budge! He may just take a second moment to reconsider a new easier target!
There is a whole page and article devoted to door jamb failure including videos! Read the entire article on “Door Jamb Failure”
Home Security Tip #13)Check your sliding glass doors:
Many sliding glass doors can be picked up right out of the frame! Even if they are locked and have a pole in the track! Install a sliding glass door lock at the base of the door on the track side. This prevents the door from being lifted out of the track! Install a bar behind the door as a secondary backup to the track lock! Or better yet install the double lock safe slider lock! It’s easy and stops the door from being lifted out and jimmied open! This is an important part of your home security so make sure you check this! Patio doors are an easy in for an intruder!
There is a whole page devoted to patio door locks including videos! Read the entire article on “Patio Door Locks“!
Home Security Tip #14)Know the facts:
Most burglaries happen during the day and not at night! Burglaries make up 25% of all property crimes! More than 60% of burglaries involve forced entry! Burglars spend less than ten minutes in your home and then get out! A security system reduces the time they have to rummage through your home! The items they take are jewelry, laptop computers, guns, portable electronics, and cash! Having a safe and an alarm system can stop the majority of loss in a burglary! The most frequent entry point is the front main door! Lock bumping and kicking the door in are the primary ways of gaining entry!
Here are some more interesting facts about home security!
Where Burglars Enter a House…
80% or more of residential intrusions occur through the first floor of the home!
34% of burglars entered through the front door!
23% through a first-floor window!
22% through the back door!
9% through the garage!
4% entered through a basement!
4% through an unlocked entrance!
2% through a storage area!
Only 2% entered through the second floor!
Home Security Tip #15)Check the garage door:
A garage door can be an easy way into your home! Many homeowners just close the garage door and don’t lock the inner door to the house! Worse than that is leaving the garage door open and locking just the bottom lock or knob lock on the inner door! A burglar could enter the garage, close the door, and then kick that inner door in or bump the lock! Remember that a burglar is looking for places that will give them cover! A garage offers all the cover that a burglar could need. Also make sure that you don’t just leave the garage door up all day long. Many garage robberies happen and then aren’t even known for days until you realize that your scooter or weed whacker is gone. The garage is definitely a place to increase your homes security! Watch the video below for the first thing you need to do to improve your garage security! You need to wrap wire around the emergency release so it can’t be pulled easily from outside the garage! There are so many different types of garage doors it’s hard for me to give you just one solution! The idea is to just stop this function all together! The chance of you needing to use this feature is slimmer than someone using it to get in! Just make sure that you can undo whatever you have done if need be!
There is and entire page devoted to garage door break ins including videos! Read the entire article on “Garage door Break Ins“!
Home Security Tip #16)Mark your belongings:
Get a permanent marker, engraving tool, or a UV marker! Write your Drivers License Number on expensive items so if they are stolen and recovered the Police know who to contact! Marked equipment and belongings are harder to pawn off. A UV marked item is invisible to the eye without a UV lamp. UV lamps are commonly used by police on crime scenes. Engraving your belongings is a more permanent way of marking them that is not easily removed like permanent marker can be! Marking expensive items like flat screen TV’s, laptops, and even game systems is important! These are some of the most commonly stolen items since they are easily pawned in a second hand or pawn store!
Home Security Tip #17)Cut back trees and shrubs from your home:
As stated in the video at the top of this page, the number one thing that a burglar is looking for is COVER! Cutting back bushes and trees that are over grown, close to the house, or blocking the view of the house from neighbors and street is a good idea! This will help the exterior lighting to effectively expose people that may be sneaking around the outside of the building looking for a way in. Before you install a 6 foot stockade fence, keep in mind that this is cover too! You need to weigh privacy verses the threat of an intrusion or burglary. If you have trees or bushes close to a window or door cut them back or remove them.
Home Security Tip #18)Lock up ladders and tools:
A ladder laying against the side of your home just screams rob me! Burglars know that few people lock their second floor windows. Once in they will just use the front door to get out. If you have a ladder store it in the garage or lock it up with a chain. Make sure that it is completely out of view of the street. A burglar checking out your home because he sees a ladder won’t be able to see the chain! Getting close to your home may just reveal another way to get in.
Home Security Tip #19) Move your security alarm key pad out of site:
Many homes have the keypad for the alarm system in plain view of the front door or front windows. This is a bad idea since many alarm systems have serious defects that are know to criminals and not you! Plus having the panel in view of the door will tell a burglar weather it is armed or not. It will also reveal what the make and model of the security system! Move the keypad out of view and post a security sign by the front door instead!
Home Security Tip #20)Install security signs:
Install “security signs” and “beware of dog” signs! Install these on gates to the back yard, mailboxes, and at the front door! Make sure they are visible from the street to deter those scoping a neighborhood! The best way to deter a burglar is to present your home as a hard target! If your home appears like it can get them busted they will just look for an easier target!
Home Security Tip #21)Install peep holes on exterior doors:
Installing door viewers or peepholes to allow you to see who is at the door. Burglars and intruders commonly knock since walking up to your front door seems so natural. Neighbors and those passing by won’t even look twice unless something looks suspicious. Burglars commonly knock to make sure that no one is home before walking around back and kicking a door in! Remember that they have done nothing wrong until they physically kick the door in. They can just say they are lost or looking for “Billy”! If someone comes to your door and has a stupid reason for being there, know you have just been cased! Call the Police immediately and report it! Always check to see who is at the door before you answer it! Remember most burglaries happen during the day and not at night! If a workman comes to your home and you don’t know why, refuse him entrance until you call to verify! Most people have cell phones with cameras! Snap a picture and send it to a friend! If the person at the door has any problems with you running basic security checks on them and their presence there, call the Police!
Home Security Tip # 22)Teach your children about home security:
Never let your kids answer the door, and if you do at least install a door viewer or peep hole that they can see through! Security habits like checking the door before opening it, start at an early age can last a lifetime! Post emergency numbers where your children can find them! Post more than 911! Post poison control numbers, neighbors numbers, and close friends! Have fire drills, and stranger at the door drills! Teach your kids that they shouldn’t be afraid to call a friend or the Police for help or answers to emergency based questions!
Home Security Tip # 23)Start a neighborhood watch or join yours:
Neighborhoods that have watches have dramatically less crime than ones that do not! If you have a neighborhood watch make sure that signs are posted throughout the area! If signs look old, replace them! Neighbors that know you will look out for you and you for them! There is a saying… A nation divided cannot stand! This can be brought down to, a neighborhood divided or even a home divided. There are many benefits to having a neighbor hood watch! First, you get to know your neighbors! Second, you can have picnics! When I grew up the whole neighborhood used to get together and throw a party! There was never a robbery in our neighborhood. Third, getting to know your neighbors makes for a stringer community. It also help you find good baby sitters and contractors that have already worked locally! Here are a few links:
Home Security tip #24)Install window security film:
Window security film keeps glass from being broken through with ease! Burglar usually try to avoid braking glass since it makes a more distinct noise than kicking a door in! Beside it leaves a clear sign from outside that someone has entered. With door kicking all the damage is on the inside and cannot be seen from outside the building! The most important glass to coat with security film is small glass around doors! This is a common entry way for a burglar. They are more likely to break a small window by a door than a patio door window! If you can afford installing this on all your windows, then know that it serves multiple purposes. First it stops intruders. Second, it reduces glare and furniture fading. Third, it reduces heat gain and loss. Several companies make this product like 3M and Ace! Ace’s product is harder to install but is so tough that it can actually stop a bullet traveling under 1000 feet per second! This stuff is no joke and if you have a commercial building with a lot of glass, installing this will just stop a major theft in its tracks!
Home Security Tip #25)Keep cars locked in the driveway:
Remember that cars in the driveway are easy and quick targets for theft especially for neighborhood kids! People keep change and sometimes credit cards in the glove box! Worse than that is if you have a garage door you probably have a garage door remote! So if you go out make sure that car is locked or at least doesn’t have a remote that could allow access to the house! In number 24 we talked about window security film. This film is also great for putting on your side car windows too. This stops smash and grab car theft, aids in stopping car jacking, and stops glass from shattering in your face during an accident! This stuff is just incredible!
Home Security Tip #26) Protect your computer information:
Did you know that you can backup the contents of your laptop and/or your home computers for as little as $4 a month! As a webmaster and security consultant the information on my computers is more valuable to me than the computers, ten times over! Years ago I had an apartment burglary where I lost a new and an old laptop. To this day my biggest loss that day wasn’t the computers themselves; but the photos, videos, and files that were stolen from me! Don’t lose precious memories and work stuff over $50 a year! Plus if your computer is stolen or lost this service allows you to track where it is if it is turned on and picks up an internet signal! Here’s the solution: BackBlaze
With BackBlaze you can download a copy of your hard drive or any single file as you need it!
Career Burglar Tells What He Looks For In A Target!
Mind Blowing! Citizen addresses city counsil after catching 4 burglars attempting to rob his home! To his supprise he discovered that they collectively had over 60 felony charges between them and were still at large robbing homes!
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