body> The Safe Home

Your home is only as safe as you make it. If you install safety features such as outdoor lighting, window locks and door reinforcements, your home will be much safer than if you had failed to prepare. Use the following safety steps to make your home as safe as possible.

1.  Place large, reflective numbers on your house or mailbox so police and other emergency vehicles can locate your home quietly and easily.

2.  Never leave ladders or other tools lying around outdoors where they can be used by an intruder, to reach or pry open windows.

3.  Keep your garage door locked at all times. If you have a door that opens mechanically, remove the disconnect rope while you are on vacation. If you have an electric door opener, turn the system off and put a padlock on the inside.

4.  Install outdoor lighting to deter thieves. Motion detector spotlights can also be quite effective.

5.  Invest in some type of door reinforcement; chain locks do not offer enough protection against intruders. Anti-pry plates are also a great idea, as well as wide-angle peep holes and unbreakable glazing on glass.

6.  If you are installing additional locks on your doors, be sure to keep them at least 12 inches above the doorknob and at least 40 inches away from windows, glass panels and other openings such as mail slots.

7.  Keep your windows closed, and lock them, even in the open position.

8.  Secure sliding glass doors with a specially designed steel or wood bar, which prevents prying or jimmying. It is also a good idea to install a series of roundhead screws and angle irons to secure the stationary panel.

9.  Prepare your master bedroom for use as an emergency refuge in the event that an intruder comes into your home while you are inside. Install a solid wood door with a quality lock and equip the room with a phone, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and noisemaker.

10.  Plant thorny bushes under all of your windows.

11.  Do not hide your key in obvious places, such as under the doormat or flowerpot, or above the doorframe.

12.  Consider installing a quality security system.