Home Security

Nine Ways to Keep Your Home Protected

1. Keep your doors locked. It sounds simple, but in nearly half of all home burglaries, intruders gain access through unlocked doors. All outside doors should be fitted with deadlocks. And never leave keys in locks or hidden in your yard. Leave a set with a neighbor.

2. Keep your windows locked. Make sure your ground floor windows are fitted with strong locks. If any windows are near drainpipes or flat roofs, put a lock on them as well.

3. Never make it obvious you're away. Use timer'switches to switch on lamps and radios at certain times and have the post office hold your mail. Leave blinds or drapes open in their usual position. And have your lawn mowed or your walk shoveled.

4. Get to know your neighbors. . They can keep an eye out for'suspicious activity around your home and keep you aware of any criminal activity in the area.

5. Keep trees and hedges trimmed. This gives intruders fewer places to hide while they try to break into your home.

6. Make sure your home is well lit. Always have replacement bulbs for your outdoor lights handy so you can replace them as soon as they burn out. Consider upgrading to motion detectors that turn on the lights whenever anyone walks past.

7. Don't hide things in obvious places. Thieves know that most valuables are kept in the bedroom, so don't think yours are safe there. And don't hide them in typical places like a dresser drawer, the freezer, under the mattress, or in the cookie jar.

8. Don't keep a lot of cash or'small valuable in the home. Keep jewelry or other valuables locked in a safe or well hidden. Large items like TVs, VCRs, computers, and stereos can be bolted to tables, making them too much of a bother to steal.

9. If you have an alarm, use it. If you don't, get one. Learn more about the monitoring systems available in your area. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations.

Several national security companies have local representatives who will install a system for you at a very attractive introductory price (sometimes even free) when you commit to a certain length of monitoring.