Summer Safety Tips
courtesy of the Midtown Watch group
DO make your home look like you’re there. Lights turned off and on by timers give your home a "lived in look" when you’re away.
DO have good locks. A high quality, one-inch deadbolt lock on every outside door is a basic requirement.
DO have a free home security inspection and be an active participant in Neighborhood Watch. A thief wants to take the path of least resistance.
Your participation in Neighborhood Watch provides the most resistance.
DO walk, bike, or run in well-lit areas. Also keep your bike and sports equipment inside the house when they’re not in use.
DO lock gates, garage doors, and shed doors after every use.
DO illuminate or eliminate places an intruder might hide: the spaces between trees or shrubbery, stairwells, alleys, hallways, and entryways.
DON’T leave your home unlocked, even for a brief trip to the store or a visit to the neighbor across the street. Many homes have been burglarized in just such short periods of time.
DON’T leave your windows open and unattended. Open windows, especially on the first floor, extend an invitation to criminals, especially if valuables are in sight.
DON’T hide a key outside your home. Leave the extra key with a trusted neighbor or friend. If you have deadbolt cylinder locks you must use a key to lock the door, and can’t possibly lock yourself out.
DON’T leave things visible in your car. Even CDs or loose change will encourage some thieves to break into your car.
Call 255-3131 to report a crime or suspicious activity.
Good advice. Also worth pointing out that a UL-listed home security system with monitoring only costs around $200 - $300 plus $8 - $15 / month in monitoring fees. Most home insurance companies will give you a discount on your policy, and those "Protected by..." stickers on your windows are a very effective deterrent.
Posted by: floor9 | June 06, 2008 at 03:52 PM