Don’t open the door to strangers. If you get an unexpected knock at the door, check to see who it is before opening it. Elderly people especially are old school and want to be hospitable. Best defense, act as if someone is in the home with you: say, I’ve got the door,” and speak through the door. Tell friends to call you before they plan to visit.
Secure your front door with a deadbolt. Install 1-inch deadbolt locks on all exterior doors. Use 4 inch screws to secure your deadbolt to the door frame. Many installers don’t drill the bolt hole deep enough and use only half-inch screws. Burglars can kick those doors in with little effort.
Install peepholes on all entry doors, including garages. Many burglars try to access the house through the garage.
Don’t leave House keys in obvious locations. Don’t leave extra keys under doormats, potted plants or any other obvious outdoor location. Thieves will generally find them. Find an inconspicuous place to hide the keys, or give a set to a neighbor you can trust.
Sliding glass patio doors should always be secure. Many times burglars work as a team. One at the front door keeping you talking while another enters through a rear and steals everything within reach. Burglar-proof your glass patio doors by setting a pipe, piece of wood or metal bar in the middle bottom track of the door slide. The pipe should be the same length as the track and always keep it in place.
Always listen to your intuition. In these times we live in everyone has a cell phone or GPS. If someone comes to your door wanting information or directions. If they are persistent in you opening the door for them to hear your explanation, Call 911 immediately
The ultimate goal of a thief is the master bedroom. Keep your valuables out of reach for an intruder. Use a secured safe deposit box in a bank to stash away your valuables when they’re not in use or if that is not possible hide your valuables in a safety box in a less conspicuous location In the house.
Keep drapes and blinds closed at night. Don’t allow intruders to easily see what’s inside your home – especially in rooms where there is expensive equipment. Drapes and blinds obscure a potential intruder’s view, making it difficult to see which rooms hold high value items, or even whether someone is inside the home.
