Home Security Tips

Protecting your home and family is very important to all of us. Here are some important home security tips that will help you keep your home secure. Follow these steps and use a monitored security alarm system and you will be able to rest easy knowing that your family is safe. Here are some important statistics to keep in mind as you read these home security tips:

• 1 burglary every 14.6 seconds
• 62.2% of all burglaries occur between 6am-6pm
• Average loss per residential burglary is $1607
• Only 12.9% of all 2004 burglaries were solved

Source: U.S. Dept of Justice-FBI (2004)

Securing Your Windows

• Replace or repair broken or cracked windows immediately
• Keep expensive items away from windows
• Use blinds or curtains so that its harder for people to see inside

Maintaining Your Yard

• To make it easy for emergency vehicles to find your home, use large reflective numbers on your house and mailbox
• Never store a ladder outside your home
• Do not put your name on your mailbox
• Do not hide a spare key outside your home
  Keep trees and shrubs trimmed
• Keep all entry points to your home well lit

Protect Your Valuables

• Do not hide valuables in the freezer, cookie jar, or mattress
• Make sure you break down boxes and cut them up before throwing them
  away
• Shred sensitive documents before throwing in the trash
• Keep jewelry in a safe or safe deposit box

Going on Vacation

• Use a timer for your lights, TV, and radio while you are gone
• Put your newspaper and mail delivery on hold
  Have a neighbor keep an eye on your house, shovel snow, mow the yard
• Leave an extra car parked in your driveway
• Never tell people you are on vacation on your voicemail
• Forward your home phone to your cell