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Protecting Your Home Against Entry

Key Control

• Change your locks (or re-key locks) when you move into a new home or lose your keys
• Do not leave an "emergency" key under the door mat or in any other "hiding spot"
• Never attach a name, address, or license tag to house keys or children's house keys
• Keep car keys and house keys separate
• Never leave your house keys with a parking lot attendant

Landscaping

• Keep doorways, windows, and porches clear of overgrown shrubs; Bushes give a burglar a place to hide and work
• Prune large trees away from your house to keep burglars from climbing the lower limbs to the second story
• A well-maintained yard is a very effective clue that someone is at home
• Plan landscaping with both privacy and security in mind by planting thorny bushes and shrubs near windows and fences
• Walkways and driveways should be easily seen
• Be sure no landscaping offers concealment for intruders
• Locked gates and well-maintained fences can make break-ins more difficult and help prevent the removal of large items

Exterior Lighting

• Exterior lighting is extremely important in residential security
• Light each exterior doorway from dusk to dawn so a burglar can't hide to break in
• Yards and windows should also be lighted
• Motion detectors work best as lights turn on when a change occurs in the environment
• Motion detector lights can also be equipped with bell or other warning sounds
• Check the sensors or motion detectors periodically to be sure of proper working order

Doors

• All exterior doors should be of solid core construction, including garage side doors (Hallow core or composition board doors can easily be broken or kicked in)
• Door frames should be of solid construction and equipped with the proper strike plate
• Removable hinges on doors should be on the inside to prevent removal by a burglar
• If doors hinges are on the outside, make sure the hinge pins are non-removable

Deadbolt Locks

• Deadbolt locks are available in double-key cylinder, inside thumb-operated models, or keyless deadbolt
• Use the thumb-turn deadbolt only if windows do NOT exist in or near the door
• Parents with small children might consider putting the deadbolt towards the top of the door to prevent a small child from opening the door to strangers

Sliding Windows and Doors

• Sliding windows and doors can be secured by using bracing devices (broom handle) or pan-head top screws if the sliders are on the inside
• Check the local hardware store to explore the many security devices available

Alarms

• An alarm system can contribute to your home's security; however, do not depend only upon an alarm to protect you
• Most residential alarms emit a loud noise, an effective deterrent to a burglar
• There are many types of alarms available; Choose one to meet your needs from a reputable dealer