Prevent Home Intrusions

Most home intruders actually enter through a door. Homeowners may leave door between the garage and the kitchen unlocked, believing the garage door is sufficient as a barrier. You know, you can lift a garage door or enter through a side door to the garage as they are normally out of sight around the back of the house and many times sit in a natural alcove, making them great spots for break-ins. And police have reported cases where intruders have slipped under the automatic garage door as it was closing. Remember our earlier tip suggesting outdoor motion lights that will illuminate the drive and area around the garage door. Criminals shy away from the light.

Consider putting in solid, highly impenetrable deadbolt locking systems. This will make getting through the door more difficult and time consuming, making your neighbor’s home a more desirable target.

If you follow up with a home security system, once a door is opened or an interior sensor activated, a high decibel alarm sounds off alerting the homeowner, the intruder, and the alarm company to immediately send the police. It peaks the interest of your neighbors so they will look out their windows and even follow up with a call to the police. If you are in the house, the alarm can give you time to shut and lock your bedroom door, where can wait until the police arrive. You can talk to the police via a landline or your cell phone as well.

Which brings up another point. When installing an alarm system, have an alarm panel placed in your bedroom. Then when it beeps or alarms, you are sure to hear it. These panels also have a panic button that calls the police and a button that contacts the fire department so you can call for help without leaving your secured bedroom.

Never open your door if you are not sure who it is. Many fancy new homes are being built with beautiful front doors that force the homeowner to provide easy access to the home once it is opened without a sure knowledge of who is on the other side, or whether or not you want to open the door for them. You can try to look through a side window or a peephole and ask who is there. If you do not know the person, do not open your door.

You should consider installing storm doors with deadbolt locks so you can open your main door and talk to a visitor without allowing them immediate access. This should only be done when you have a reasonable expectation of safety, like when a delivery of flowers or food is expected. Once you have assured yourself the delivery is on the up and up, you can open the storm door and fulfill the transaction.