The U.S. crime rate has been dropping steadily for two decades now, with politicians and pundits arguing over the cause and the meaning. Common sense would suggest that the march of technological progress, making ever-less-costly home security solutions more widely available to more people. When security professionals look at the situation, however, they see more than just high-tech tools. There are simple, low-tech ways of protecting your home and family, too, and even if you have an electronic security system you are still advised to use some or all of the following 10 items to make your home secure.
1. Solid core or metal exterior doors: Exterior doors, and the door from the garage to the house, should be solid core or metal. Lightweight and hollow-core doors offer minimal protection and can be taken out with a good hammer, much less an axe or tire iron. Although this list is not in any particular order, strong doors are a basic, universal requirement for home security and are worth every penny.
2. Window hardware: Unsecured windows, especially on the ground floor, are easy entry points for skilled burglars. There are various security devices made especially for windows, so you can choose a solution that best fits the design and location of your windows.
3. Lighting: At the minimum, all entrances to the home should be well lit. Outdoor lighting enables you to see any activity at night, and have been proven to deter break-ins. Fixtures should be sturdy, with hidden wiring that cannot be pulled out, and a mesh screen over the bulb canopy will ensure that thieves don't break the light bulbs. There are floodlights you can use, but even household bulbs can be used if that's all you have or can afford, as long as they are 60 watts or stronger.
4. Door hardware: Again, your exterior doors should have the ability to resist break-ins. Starting with solid-core and metal doors (#1 above) is good, but adding 1" dead bolts and specially-made "strike plates" is even better. Make sure to secure the plates with long (at least 3") screws for the best protection.
5. Sliding door locks, sticks or pins: To protect sliding glass doors from being forced open, you can place a board, 2" dowel or broomstick in the track. To keep them from being removed entirely, you can install clips or "pin locks" that will prevent anyone from lifting the door out of its track.
6. Grates and grills for basement windows: In addition to securing basement windows as you would any other, consider adding keyed locks or other hardware to keep them from being forced open or out of position. A grate or metal grill installed over any basement windows, secured to the house and not the window frame, offers excellent protection, too.
7. Window bars: If you live in a high-crime area, you have already seen many of your neighbors install bars over their windows. This is a solution that should be considered only in the worst situations, and it is likely that your neighbors would not appreciate your being the first person on the block to install them. Your local police department can tell you if the burglary rate in your area justifies your taking this rather extreme measure.
8. Peep hole: Installing a "peephole" at the front door, or any door leading in from the outside that has no window, is a low-cost, simple security solution. If you learned not to open doors for strangers as a child, there is no reason to discontinue the practice when you grow up. Knowing who is standing right outside your home is important. A peephole lets you see who's knocking (or not knocking) at the front door, without them being able to see in. This is one of the most cost-effective, inexpensive home security upgrades you can make.
9. New locks: If you have lost track of copies of home keys, or misplaced keys that had your name and/or address on them, it's time for new locks. New locks are also indicated if you ever have a break-in, whether or not you think any keys were stolen. Ladies whose purses are lost need to have the home locks changed, too.
10. Clean and tidy front and back yards: You may not consider this an "item" in the usual sense, but one of the best deterrents to burglary is a well-maintained house and yard (front and back). The primary message sent by this is that you are a conscientious homeowner, and it suggests you have been more thorough with home security than a neighbor with abandoned cars on the lawn and foot-high weeds.
There are other things you can do when you go on vacation, like add timers to a few lights, stop the mail and newspaper deliveries, and so forth. You do not have to spend a fortune to secure your home, but since it is very likely your biggest investment - and your irreplaceable, priceless loved ones live there - you need to do everything you can possibly do to protect yourself, your family and your property.
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