Keep Your Home Secure While You’re Away
August 16, 2011
The summer season is coming to close, but many of you may be trying to squeeze in one last vacation while the weather is nice. We don’t blame you! However, while you may be planning which outfits to bring, mapping the fastest route to get there, or figuring out how to get through airport security on time (the TSA offers some great tips), you should also be deciding on a plan for your home security while you’re away. A recent article we found outlines some precautions you can take to make your home safer while on vacation.
Locksmith Training Home Security Tips Revealed
It’s that time of year when the number of house break-ins tend to rise with the temperatures. The period from late July through August is a peak vacation time, which means many homes and apartments will be unoccupied and potentially vulnerable over the next few weeks.
But there are ways to keep your home safer while on vacation, say home security experts. Here are some simple precautions:
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Windows – keep windows locked and the shades closed. Wooden sash windows can be reinforced with low-cost window pins, a simple bolt system that is installed from the inside where the two sashes meet and are difficult to remove from the outside.
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Sliding doors – this is a popular point of forced entry, because their lockss are typically of lower quality, and the doors can be lifted off the tracks. A security device called a “Charlie bar” can be installed on the door frame to keep the sliding doors in place.
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Main entry doors – existing locks can be protected with an interlocking door guard, a set of metal strips installed on the door and frame that make it harder to jimmy the door open with a pry bar. For added protection, replace existing lock cylinders with high-security cylinders that are resistant to picking and drilling.
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Basement windows – another popular entry point, as they are low to the ground and often hidden by shrubs. Troiano suggests keeping shrubs trimmed to keep these windows visible. He also suggests installing a dead bolt lock on the interior door leading up from the basement to slow the forward progress of any intruders who do get in.
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Use light and sound to your advantage – put several house lights on timers, and set them at different intervals. Outside motion detector lights can be a real deterrent to potential intruders at night. In apartment or condo buildings, a radio playing softly near the front door can convince a potential intruder to move on. Some motion detection systems come with a recorded dog-barking sound – an especially effective deterrent to break-ins.
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Install an electronic security system – these systems range from basic to advanced, and are monitored by professional security firms like ADP, Wells Fargo, and many local and reputable alarm companies.
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Keep the property’s “lived in” look – don’t let mail and newspapers pile up. Keep the lawn mowed and the shrubs trimmed. Leave the car parked in the driveway (rather than in the garage). Leave your key, your itinerary and your contact information with a trust-worthy neighbor.
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