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By: Ralph Winn
Common sense dictates us to lock our doors at night and when
we are away from home, but residential crime prevention comes
in many other shapes and sizes. Effective residential crime
prevention depends on everything from properly fitted doors
to stopping your mail delivery when away on vacation.
The Basics
Residential crime prevention starts with taking the proper
steps to secure the outside of your home. Basic residential
crime prevention measures include installing outside floodlights,
keeping your yard clutter free, pruning shrubbery so it doesn't
hide windows and doors and cutting tree limbs back from upper-level
windows.
Not every intrusion can be prevented. Knowing what to do
when faced with different situations not only protects your
possessions but can save your life. Ask all service and delivery
people for proper photo identification, do not enter your
home if something looks questionable, such as a broken window,
opened door, or slit screen and leave your home immediately
if you suspect someone is breaking into your home, and if
you can't leave safely, lock yourself in a room and call 911.
Doors and Locks
Burglars, on average, spend no more than 60 seconds trying
to gain access to a home. Installing proper doors and locks
on your home makes breaking in more difficult and often deters
burglars. The following guidelines for doors and locks significantly
improve residential crime prevention: install solid wood or
metal doors, fit each exterior door with properly fitted dead
bolts, do not rely on knob locks or door chains; they are
easily broken, secure sliding glass doors with commercial
grade locks or place a sturdy dowel in the door track and
never hide keys around the outside of your home; instead give
a spare to a trustworthy neighbor.
Alarm Systems
An alarm system installed in your home, especially if you
live in a secluded area or high-crime neighborhood, can provide
needed residential crime prevention. To achieve effective
residential crime prevention, you first need to evaluate your
home's needs. Your home's location and surroundings determine
the level of residential crime prevention you need.
About The Author
Ralph Winn has over 32 years of experience in the security
industry. Throughout his career, he has developed cost effective
security programs for numerous small, medium, large commercial
and government properties and for many nationally known corporations.
http://www.homesecuritystore.com.
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