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| RESIDENTIAL SECURITY |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS EFFECTIVE IN DETERRING THE CRIMINAL BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO WORK IN THE COVER OF DARKNESS. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE TO LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON ALL NIGHT YOU MAY WISH TO GET A MOTION DETECTOR.
TREES AND SHRUBS SHOULD BE TRIMMED BACK AWAY FROM THE DOORWAYS AND WINDOWS TO ELIMINATE ANY HIDING SPOTS.
EXTERIOR DOORS SHOULD BE SOLID-CORE OR RE-ENFORCED METAL DOORS.
THERE SHOULD BE DEAD-BOLT LOCKS ON ALL THE EXTERIOR DOORS, THE BOLTS SHOULD HAVE A THROW OF AT LEAST ONE INCH.
EXTERIOR DOORS SHOULD HAVE A PEEP HOLE IN IT WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU A 180 DEGREE VIEW.
EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS SHOULD HAVE THE ANTI-SHIM DEVICE.
SLIDING GLASS DOORS SHOULD HAVE A ADDED LOCK AND A ANTI-LEFT DEVICE SO THE DOOR CANNOT BE LIFTED OFF OF THE TRACK AND REMOVED.
WINDOWS SHOULD NOT BE CLOSER THAN 36 INCHES FROM THE DOORS.
IF THE WIDOWS ARE CLOSER THAN 36 INCHES THEN THERE SHOULD BE A WIRE MESH OR BARS OVER THE GLASS TO LIMIT THE SIZE OF THE OBJECT THAT CAN FIT BETWEEN THE BARS.
GLASS SHOULD BE BREAK RESISTANT IN THE AREAS AROUND DOORS.
GARAGE DOORS SHOULD BE KEPT CLOSED WHEN NOT AT HOME. WHILE YOU ARE ON VACATION YOU SHOULD PUT A LOCK ON THE INSIDE TRACT TO PREVENT THE DOOR FROM BEING FORCED OPEN.
STOP ALL MAIL, NEWSPAPERS AND OTHER HOME DELIVERIES, OR HAVE SOMEONE PICK THEM UP DAILY.
A KEY SHOULD BE LEFT WITH A TRUSTED FRIEND WHO WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO TAKE CARE OF EMERGENCIES THAT MAY OCCUR.
THE INTERIOR SHOULD BE LIT WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT HOME TO GIVE THE HOME A OCCUPIED LOOK. THIS CAN BE DONE WITH TIMER SWITCHES OR SIMPLY LEAVE A DIFFERENT LIGHT ON EACH NIGHT.
IF YOUR HOME HAS AN ALARM SYSTEM IT SHOULD BE KEPT IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND ANYONE WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO USE IT SHOULD BE PROPERLY TRAINED TO USE IT AND KNOW THE PROPER WAY TO ARM AND DISARM IT WITHOUT A FALSE ALARM FROM OCCURRING.
DO NOT HIDE KEYS ANYWHERE OUTSIDE, IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT THEN SO DO THE CRIMINALS.
VALUABLES SHOULD BE MARKED BY YOU WITH A IDENTIFYING NUMBER OR SYMBOL IN CASE IT IS STOLEN.
KEEP AN UPDATED INVENTORY OF THE ITEMS YOU FEEL ARE VALUABLE/IMPORTANT. THIS LIST SHOULD INCLUDE THE MODEL/SERIAL NUMBERS AND THE OWNER APPLIED NUMBER. THERE SHOULD BE PHOTOS OF JEWELRY AND SMALL ITEMS WHICH WOULD BE HARD TO MARK.
DO NOT PROVIDE YOUR NAME TO THOSE WHO CLAIM TO HAVE CALLED A WRONG NUMBER.
SINGLE WOMEN SHOULD LIST ONLY LAST NAME AND FIRST INITIAL IN THE PHONE BOOK AND ON THE MAIL BOXES.
WHEN YOU MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT YOU SHOULD HAVE THE LOCK CHANGED.
GET INVOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH OR ASK AROUND AND SEE IF THERE ARE MORE NEIGHBORS INTERESTED AND START ONE.
DO NOT LEAVE ITEMS OF VALUE IN PLAIN SIGHT IN YOUR AUTOMOBILE. WHILE AT HOME YOU SHOULD NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN FRONT OF OPEN WINDOWS AND DOORS WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE THEM WALKING BY.
DO NOT LEAVE PROPERTY LAYING IN THE YARD.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE SHUT & LOCKED, NO MATTER HOW SHORT OF TIME YOU PLAN ON BEING GONE.
IF YOU USE PAD-LOCKS AROUND THE HOUSE YOU SHOULD MAKE SURE THE LOCK IS HARDENED STEEL WITH AT LEAST A 9/32 INCH SHACKLE. ALSO, THE KEY NUMBERS THAT ARE ENGRAVED OR PRINTED ON THE BACK SHOULD BE REMOVED. IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET A KEY MADE WITH JUST THE NUMBERS.
