Garage Door News You Can Use: December 2009
Is Your Home Safe from Burglars?
Credit: Hoffman Estates
Recently, The New York Times printed an article entitled "At Home: For Security’s Sake," detailing one reporter’s experience with the Maplewood Police free home-survey service. In Maplewood, New Jersey, police are offering a survey service to residents that will help residents identify ways that intruders could enter their homes. According to the article, the number of burglaries within the Maplewood area has risen drastically over the past couple of years, and this rise in crime has prompted local police offers to assist residents to secure their homes properly. Sergeant Naddeo told the Times reporter that it was crucial for people "to pick up on crime-prevention methods more than ever."
The Maplewood police department assessed that reporter's house and gave a detailed review, from its curb appeal to the way that burglars could find a way into the home. What they found was that the house had many unsafe areas. While this may have slightly shaken the reporter, it further showed that most people do not know how to properly secure their homes. It's time to learn, though, since home invasions are entirely real and many people are victimized each year.
There are a couple of ways to ensure that your home does not become a burglary target. Read through the following checklist, and make sure that your house is safe from any kind of possible crime.
- Your house address should be clearly marked, so that emergency personnel can find your home in a hurry. If your address is covered or non-existent, it may take longer for emergency crews to help you when you are in danger.
- Place a large floodlight at the top of your driveway, and make sure that any porch lights illuminate the entire expanse of your porch or front yard.
- Do not leave porch lights (or any other lights) on during the daytime. When your lights are on throughout the day, burglars will know that you are away from your home. The same theory can be applied to any newspapers or mail that may collect in front of your home while you are on vacation.
- Avoid leaving your garage door open. Even though leaving a garage door open may be convenient, this is an open invitation to any kind of criminal.
- Think about purchasing solid doors rather than hollow ones. While solid doors are more expensive, they are also harder to break than hollow doors.
- Take the time to ensure that your windows have security features. Install locks or window pins that will prevent any burglar from easily opening a window.
- Close your curtains when you are not home. Leaving your curtains open will allow criminals to see into your home, and this is never a good idea.
- Lastly, write down the worth of all the valuables that you have, and take photographs of each one. This way, if anything is stolen from your home, you will have a record of the item, its worth and a photograph to prove that you owned the item in question.
