10 Tips to Keep Burglars Away

It's easy to take security for granted. When first moving into a house or apartment, people check out potential problems because the environment is new. However, over time many become complacent and forget to re-examine the environment. With crime on the rise, it's time for a refresher with these ten top hints:

1. Use single cylinder thick bolt locks combined with reinforced strike plates for all outside entrances. Secure these with long screws. Don't skimp on quality of locks since they are the best defense against stranger entry.
2. Install deadbolts on all glass sliding doors. People often think that the included lock hardware is enough, but it isn't. Burglars love sliding doors since they are often easy entry, and good locks are important.
3. Regularly examine all outside door and window locks to make sure they are in working order. Normal vibrations, heat and cold, and time have a way of loosening the best hardware so periodic inspections are vital.
4. Never hide an entry key outside. Even though you think you have discovered a clever place for key concealment, burglars pride themselves on creative thinking.
5. Whenever you move into a new house or apartment, change the locks. Though previous tenants may be trustworthy, many may have passed along copies to repair people and relatives. New locks are a minor investment against major loss.
6. Install metal or solid core entrance doors. The best lock in the world won't protect against a burglar who is willing to cut through an easily penetrable wood door. Think of doors as the guard standing duty against the uninvited.
7. Unplug your electric garage door when leaving for extended periods of time. Doors that operate on electronic frequencies can be hacked. Also, make sure that the garage door leading into the house has a locked deadbolt and is not hollow core.
8. Develop a nightly habit of insuring that all windows and doors are locked. After a busy day, it's easy to forget that a back window has been left unsecured, or a sliding door was not dead bolted.
9. Clear away overgrown brush near the house. Over time, tenants don't always notice that what was once a small shrub is now huge. Overgrown areas are great hiding places.
10. Install lights and motion detectors around the perimeters of the housing structure. Burglars quickly eliminate houses that are well lighted in favor of those that are not.

Keeping aware of security precautions for your home makes sense. Though we all like to think that we keep on top of recommendations, it's easy to get distracted. For good home security, start with a quality lock and go from there.