- Make your home hard to get into. Install a deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt that requires a key to open it, plus a doorknob that needs a key. That’s two layers of protecting right there. A tip: If your door has a window, get a deadbolt that requires a key to open from both the inside and the outside.
- Your garage door probably is your home’s least-secure entry point. If a burglar can get into the garage, he can do almost anything else without any worry that the neighbors will see him.
- Even if you park your car inside the garage, don’t leave it unlocked, and never leave they keys in it.
- Solid-core and metal doors are harder to kick open than hollow doors, so consider them for all entry points. Invest in a four-screw, high-security strike plate as part of your door’s hardware. Use three-inch-long wood screws to secure strike plates and door hinges.
- Secure sliding-glass doors with a locking jamb pin to prevent the door from being lifted out of the track and removed. Place a large decal on the glass that warns burglars of your home security system.
- Lock your windows. If a window slides horizontally, install a locking pin to prevent the sliding portion from being lifted up and out of the frame.
- Clean up your yard. Hide away ladders and tools that a burglar can use to get into your home.
- Get to know your neighbors, especially the ones who live next door and across the street. Tell them when you’ll be away. Entrust one of them with a key to your home so you don’t have to hide one under a doormat or give one to a pet-sitter or housekeeper.
- Turn on the lights. A home that looks occupied is a less-likely target than one that looks empty. Connect lights to timers so they will turn on and off at logical times. Install outdoor lights with motion detectors.
- Make some noise. An alarm that goes off if a door opens or a window breaks can scare away a burglar because it draws attention to the house. Display a decal that tells the burglar you’ve got an alarm.
###
