Summertime Home Security Survey

So summertime is here!  Lots of time is being spent away from our homes-with vacations and visits to family and friends.  Let’s make this a golden opportunity to re-evaluate your home security.  Consider the big picture. Evaluating your home's vulnerability to a break in is the first step in determining your security needs.  Consider your personal lifestyle in order to get the big security picture.  Are you often home alone? Are children ever home for longer periods of time during the summer months? Are you traveling more often? Take the following survey to determine your real home security needs.  Check off the items that describe your current home and lifestyle; 

You have-  

·         High shrubs or bushes that obscure windows and may hide intruders as they break in  

·         Windows left open at night or during your absence  

·         Lights left on all day and night when you're away  

·         Torn or missing storm windows or screens  

·         Garages and outbuildings left unlocked even for short periods 

·         No residence number visible at night from the street  

·         Bicycles, mowers and ladders left out overnight  

·         No smoke or carbon monoxide detectors in your home  

·         No family escape plan in case of fire  

·         Valuables, fire arms and important papers kept in the home 

·         No fire extinguishers available  

·         Non-fire-proof safe  

·         House keys and car keys on the same key ring  

·         No neighborhood watch group  

Perimeter & Interior Doors 

You have-  

·         No peepholes in your entrance doors  

·         Hollow-core entrance doors 

·         No dead bolts on entrance doors  

·         Less than 1" depth on deadbolts  

·         No reinforced jamb  

·        Locks that haven't been rekeyed since you moved in  

·        Locks within 40 inches of door glass that can be opened from inside  

Windows
You have-  

·         No locks on windows  

·         Windows left open and unsecured for ventilation  

·         No locks on basement windows  

·         Curtains, drapes or blinds that don't fully cover windows  

Garage
You have-  

·         Doors that don't lock  

·         Garage lights that cant' be turned on from inside the house  

During vacations
You-  

·         Don't stop deliveries  

·         Don't notify neighbors 

·         Don't set light timers  

·         Don't have lawn mowed or sidewalks shoveled  

·         Don't arrange for hand bills to be picked up  

Additional burglar magnets- 

You- 

·         Keep most of your cash in the house  

·         Display valuables to strangers  

·         Talk about your vacation plans in public places (hair dressers, stores, car rental agency)  

Please make certain that whatever items that you have checked off-that you now devise a plan of action to eliminate the problems that you have identified, in order to provide a safe and secure home environment for you and your family.  

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