Safety

You can't stop crime but there are things you can do to help prevent
being a victim. Follow these tips for making your home a lot less
attractive to burglars.

1.  Let there be light… lots of light. Thieves hate light at night, so
give them a healthy dose of it. Motion-activated lights placed in
strategic spots discourage bad guys, and using electric timers to turn
on lights while you're gone suggests that somebody's home. Even
a porch light that illuminates the most vulnerable break-in spots is
helpful.

2.  Eliminate their hiding places. Just like bugs in the dark, thieves love
nooks and crannies where they can hide. Keep your shrubs and bushes
trimmed in places where they may cover a window or door.

3.  Be alarmed, and advertise it. Alarm systems are a highly effective
deterrent because thieves usually take the path of least resistance.
Make sure your alarm company gives you signs and window stickers to
advertise you're protected. Even if you don't have an alarm
system, get some signs and stickers that suggest you do—it can't
hurt.

4.  Make the house secure. Here's a simple fact: the stronger the door
and its locks, the safer your house. Avoid flimsy, hollow veneer doors
that beg to be kicked in and use 1-inch deadbolt locks for added
security. Sliding glass doors are easy targets, so put a stick in the
track to make it impossible to slide open from the outside. Sadly, lots
of burglaries occur when thieves walk right in through unlocked doors,
so make sure you use the locks.

5.  Ask for help. Ask neighbors to keep your front steps or driveway clean
of newspaper and flyers so you're not telling the world you've
gone out of town. If you're going to be gone for more than a couple
of days, tell your newspaper to stop delivery and do the same at the
Post Office—thieves love to steal mail, too, especially credit card
statements and other stuff they can use to steal your identity.

6.  Keep it safe. Purchase a home safe for important documents and other
valuables and place it in a spot that's not easily found. Make sure
the safe is fireproof.

7.  Consider a canine. Burglars hate dogs because they make noise that
attracts attention. If they approach a house and hear a husky bark, many
thieves simply move on.

8.  Document just in case. If, despite your best efforts, you do get
burglarized, you'll be glad you prepared yourself for an insurance
claim. Use a video recording of the contents of your home and describe
what it is you're taping. Also, make copies of receipts of
big-ticket items and appraisals of expensive jewelry and other
collectibles. Keep the tape and copies in a safe deposit box or a family
member's house. This extra step also comes in handy if you have a
house fire.