Westpark

Protect Your Home from Theft

Great Ways to Secure Your Home & Neighborhood

You probably don't like to think about crime, especially when it comes to your home and neighborhood. But no matter your income, lifestyle or where you live, crime is a fact of life. That doesn't mean you're defenseless, though. Put the following tips into action and your new home and neighborhood will be safer and more secure.

Lock Up
Reliable dead-bolt door locks and sturdy window latches help prevent break-ins. Check to make sure your doors and windows are sturdy and secure.

Install Peepholes
Peepholes with magnifying lenses let you see who's at your door - without opening it .

Be Careful with Spare Keys
If you leave a spare key outside, be creative. Burglars routinely check under flowerpots and welcome mats as well as window ledges.

Lighten Up
Leave your outside lights on at night. If your neighborhood is dimly lit, ask your municipal authorities to add streetlights or replace existing bulbs with ones of higher wattage. Leave one or two lamps on inside your house when you're not at home. Strategic lighting is a valuable deterrent.

Visible Address
Be sure your address is visible from the street so emergency vehicles can easily identify your street address.

Trim the Hedges
Tall hedges provide hiding places for would-be burglars. Keep yours trimmed so that they're no higher than your windowsills.

No Notes
Never leave notes on your door, even when you're at home.

Make your Mark
Permanently mark your valuables to make it easier for the police to return them to you if they are stolen. Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers with a state abbreviation work best. Keep a record of marked objects.

Make Noise
Tune the stereo or TV to your favorite station when you leave the house. To a burglar it means that someone's home.

Don't Provide Access
Close and lock garage doors to protect valuables stored there and to prevent access to your house. Also remember to lock all other doors that may be used to access the house.

Park in the Driveway
Park an additional car in your driveway or ask a neighbor to park there. It gives the appearance that someone's always home and prevents burglars from backing a van into the drive for easy loading.

Have Your home Watched
Ask a neighbor to collect newspapers and mail when you're away. If you'll be gone for an extended period, hire someone to take care of your lawn or even to housesit. Most important, make sure your neighbors know when you will leave and when you will return.

Get Involved
Get to know your new neighbors and team up with them to form a crime watch program. Your local police can help you get started.

Install a Home Security System
Make sure the system is easy to use and provides you with an added sense of safety - without limiting your freedom while you're at home.
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