- Leave drapes and shades open.
Closed drapes and shades indicate an unoccupied house.
- Have your lawn taken care of.
Dry uncut grass says that you're away.
- Put peepholes in front doors.
Those with magnifying glass lens are best. You can see who's
outside without opening the door. Consider door chains too.
Never leave a note on your door saying that you are not home.
- Take care with your keys...
Don't leave a key under a doormat, flower pot or on a ledge.
Burglars look in these locations first. Never leave an ignition
key in your car and never put a house key on your ignition key
ring.
- If you have a dog or an alarm
system, display "BEWARE" signs. These deter thieves.
- Ask your local police to check
your home periodically when you will be gone for an extended
period. Also, talk to them about Neighborhood Watch Programs.
- Leave a radio on. Turn it to a
talk radio station, if possible, and turn the volume loud enough
to be heard outside. This indicates that someone is home. Turn
you phone ringer or bell down so that a prowler can't hear the
phone ringing.
- Don't keep expensive jewelry at
home, unless you have a secure safe. All valuables and important
documents should be kept in a safe or a safe deposit box.
- Light the outside of your home.
Exterior lights should illuminate doors, dark spots and yards.
- Put interior lights on timers to
simulate that someone is home.
- Mark valuable items with your
California Drivers License number. Televisions, stereos, VCR's
are items a thief is likely to steal. Keep a list of these
items, along with their serial numbers, in a safe place.
- Secure patio doors. A steel or
wooden rod in the guide channel will work. A pin type lock may
also be used for added security.
- Keep your garage door down and
locked. This helps protect property stored inside. While you are
away, electric doors should be disconnected and padlocked.
- Look into an alarm system. There
are hundreds of different systems on the market. Costs are
commensurate with the sophistication of the system.
- Ask a neighbor to use your
garbage cans. Empty cans can be a tip off that you are away.
- Ask someone to park in your
driveway. This gives the illusion that someone is home.
- Consult a reputable locksmith.
He can give you advice on the best type of locks for your home.
- Keep shrubbery trimmed. Thick or
tall shrubbery can hide windows/doors. This gives a thief a
place to work unseen.
- Make an inventory of items in
your home. Take photos of valuable items. Keep one copy for
yourself and give the other to your insurance company. Video
tape (Camcorder) entire home and all rooms containing your
property and valuables.
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