install-a-deadbolt-for-home-security

Security Tips at Home, Work, and On-The-Road

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install-a-deadbolt-for-home-security

Given the recent forecast from trends researcher Gerald Celente who believes that crime will soon be going up, Crime Wave 2011, you might ask, “What can I do to prevent crime near me, or to avoid being a victim of crime?”

Assess the situation where you live, where you work, and while out and about on-the-road.

Regardless of whether or not you think crime will be up in 2011, the following security tips will lower the odds of becoming a crime victim.

Security at home, where you live

Check the security around your home or apartment. Simple outdoor motion detection security lights on the outside of your home are the most effective first step towards crime deterrence. Contrary to what you may first think, leaving lights on all night long may only attract a thief – indicating that you must have something valuable to protect. Better yet, a sudden lights-on will startle a thief, and more importantly provide a visual cue to you or your neighbors that someone has just entered the vicinity. It is instinctive for most of us to look out the window if we notice a light coming on outside at night.

Install a deadbolt lock on your front door, in addition to the standard lock of the door handle. Regular door handle locks are typically very poor and can easily be kicked in. A deadbolt will typically latch further into the door frame and provide a much more difficult scenario to kick the door in. Also, be aware that there are several quality grades of door locks and deadbolts. Spend the extra money and get the highest grade. It’s good insurance.

An interesting product is something called a Security Bar, which can be wedged between the inside door handle and the floor, providing additional resistance to someone trying to kick in the door.

Although most windows have window locks, double check to be sure that you actually lock your windows. Windows are probably the most likely way that a thief will enter your home. Having a thorny bush located outside of a first floor window will also hinder any attempt. Consider a Charley Bar for any sliding glass doors you may have.

A bit more difficult and costly is a home alarm system. There are countless varieties and brands. You don’t necessarily need to pay for a monthly ‘monitoring service’ – a screeching alarm will be enough to send a thief running – and to alert you of the intrusion if you are in the house at the time.

Security where you work and while out and about on-the-road

We spend most of our daytime hours at work. Although for most it is a daytime job, and we don’t often think of thievery or criminal activity while we’re at work during the day, there are lots of people about and it is easy for a thief to blend in to the flow.

The best thing you can do is to simply be aware of your surroundings. You don’t need to be aware to the point of paranoia, normal observation of your surroundings is good enough. Too many people have tunnel vision when they are out and about… After you work on your awareness, it will become second nature (easy) to detect when something is out of the ordinary.

While traveling and coming-and-going, thieves wait and look for easy opportunities. Vehicle break-ins at parking lots are common. Be aware of where you park and the cars around you. A quick glance around the immediate vicinity might reveal a suspicious character(s) in a nearby vehicle who is looking for an opportunity as soon as you leave the vehicle and walk away.

Thieves are always looking for those that look vulnerable and may attack someone for their purse or wallet if they believe the victim will not present a problem for them. A solution is to be aware of the people around you, to walk with confidence, and to leave an area if you have any doubt. Walking with confidence while occasionally looking around, will very likely reduce the odds of becoming a victim. As in nature, animals look for the weak prey.



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2 Comments

  1. I removed anything of value from my car and leave all doors unlocked. I would rather find my glove box had been emptied onto the floor by a car prowler then find a broken window.

    1. …you aren’t worried about someone taking the car itself?
      That’s why I lock it. If I hear someone break the window, that’s a lot easier to replace than the entire car itself. besides, you should have insurance.

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