LIGHTING
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective deterrents to
burglary. Indoor lighting gives the impression that a home
is occupied. If you are going to be away from your home,
consider using automatic timers to switch interior lights
on and off at preset times. Outdoor lighting can eliminate
hiding places. Install exterior lighting near porches, rear
and side doorways, garage doors, and all other points of
entry. Entryways to your home always should be well lighted.
Place lights out of reach from the ground so the bulbs cannot
be removed or broken. Aim some lights away from the house
so you can see if anyone is approaching, or install motion-sensing
lights, which turn on automatically as someone approaches.
SHRUBS AND LANDSCAPING
Your home’s walkways and landscaping should direct
visitors to the main entrance and away from private areas.
The landscaping should provide maximum visibility to and
from your house. Trim shrubbery that could conceal criminal
activity near doors and windows. Provide light on areas of
dense shrubs and trees that could serve as hiding places.
EXTERIOR DOORS
All exterior doors should be either metal or solid wood.
For added security, use strong door hinges on the inside
of the door, with non-removable or hidden pins. Every entry
door should be well lighted and have a wide-angle door viewer
so you can see who is outside without opening the door.
LOCKS
Strong, reliable locks are essential to effective home security.
Always keep doors and windows locked-even a five-minute trip
to the store is long enough for a burglar to enter your home.
Use quality keyed knobs as well as deadbolts, which can
withstand the twisting, turning, prying, and pounding that
regular keyed knobs can’t. When choosing a deadbolt,
look for such features as a bolt that extends at least one
inch when in the locked position, to resist ramming and kicking;
hardened steel inserts to prevent the bolt from being sawed
off, and a reinforced strike plate with extra long mounting
screws to anchor the lock effectively.
SLIDING GLASS DOORS
Sliding glass doors can offer easy entry into your home.
To improve security on existing sliding glass doors, you
can install keyed locking devices that secure the door to
the frame; adjust the track clearances on the doors so they
can’t be pushed out of their tracks; or put a piece
of wood or a metal bar in the track of the closed door to
prevent the door from opening even if the lock is tampered
with or removed.
WINDOWS
Most standard double-hung windows have thumb turn locks
between the two window panels. Don’t rely on these-they
can be pried open or easily reached through a broken pane.
An easy, inexpensive way to secure your windows is to use
the "pin" trick. Drill an angled hole through the
top frame of the lower window partially into the frame of
the upper window. Then insert a nail or eyebolt. The window
can’t be opened until you remove the nail. Make a second
set of holes with the windows partly opened so you can have
ventilation without intruders.
