Break-Ins & Holiday Burglary: Don't Be A Victim

Holidays are a precious time of the year.  
They are also a time when we make our homes the most vulnerable to 
break-ins, theft, and home invasions.
Here are a few simple tips to help make your home less of a target.
So do these and relax this holiday season.  

512.203.4200       Keith@KeithDubleTeam.com

Here is a more in depth list, brought to you by my friends at ADT Home Security Systems.

   If exterior doors are hollow-core, replace them with solid wood, fiberglass or steel.

·  Make sure exterior door hinges are on the inside rather than the outside - where an intruder can remove the pins and pull the door out of the frame. 

·  If you have double-hung windows, bolt the upper and lower sashes together or insert a metal bar in the track to prevent opening. 

·  To secure sliding glass doors, add a bolt lock or use a "rod" to block the door closed.

·  According to statistics, the most common time for burglary is between 8a.m. and noon, so get in the habit of locking all doors and windows whenever you go out.

·  Invest in high-quality, name-brand deadbolt locks for all exterior doors. 

·  If you have a double-cylinder deadbolt that is operated by a key both inside and out, keep the key near the door so every family member can find it and exit quickly in case of fire. 

·  Alarm systems are an effective deterrent. Nine out of ten convicted burglars agree they would avoid a house protected by an alarm system. Security system decals and signs are also an effective deterrent. 

·  Never leave an answering machine message indicating you're not at home. Instead, just say you "can't come to the phone." 

·  Use timers to turn lights, televisions and sound systems on and off at different times to give your home a "lived-in look" when you are out.

·  Install motion-detecting outdoor floodlights around your home. Remember to mount them high enough to prevent intruders from disabling them. 

·  If you have elderly or incapacitated friends or relatives, check to make sure their security devices are all in good working order.

·  Don't let mail, newspapers or flyers accumulate while you're away, tipping off criminals. 

·  Have the post office hold mail, have newspapers suspended, and have a neighbor or friend clear away flyers. 

·  Use a UV pen to mark an ID number, like your driver's license number, on valuables.

·  Make an inventory of valuables in your household and store it somewhere other than your home, such as in a safe deposit box. 

·  Never open the door to a stranger. 

·  Install peepholes in all exterior doors so you can identify whoever is outside. Do not rely on a door safety chain, because these can be broken easily. 

·  Ask for I.D. from service representatives who come to your home, and if they don't have it, check with their company to verify identity before letting them in. 

·  When on vacation, leave a car in your driveway or arrange for a neighbor to keep a car there and move it around from time to time.

·  Many garage door openers respond to common codes, so follow the manufacturer's instructions to program yours with a unique code no burglar's opener will match. 

·  Thieves always look in mailboxes, under doormats and above doorways for keys. Don't make it easy for them to get into your home. 

·  Don't put your name or address on your key ring, because it might lead a thief right to your door with key in hand. 

·  Keep ladders locked away or out of sight.

·  Don't put your trash out early if you are going away, ask a neighbor to do it on the usual day.

·  Keep valuables like laptops, cameras, MP3 players out of sight.

·  Keep hedges and shrubs trimmed to reduce hiding places for burglars.

·  Ensure empty boxes placed outside for recycling don't advertise the fact you have just bought something of value i.e. TV, stereo, or electrical items. Cut these boxes down so you aren't giving away details of anything that may be worth stealing.

·  Beware of anyone loitering in the area and any unfamiliar vehicles - record any details if you are suspicious and/or call the police.

 Have safe and Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!