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Burglars go through neighbourhood looking for uncut lawn and stuffed mail boxes. In the evening they look for darkened houses or lights that have been left on too long.
Don't tempt a thief - Always lock your garden sheds and garages. Use curtains on garage and basement windows. Never leave notes on your door such as "Gone shopping".
Locks..... get the best: No lock, regardless of its quality, can be truly effective. Key-in-lock knobs provide minimum security. Ask a locksmith for advice on your situation. Change locks immediately if your keys are lost or stolen. When moving into a new home, have all locks changed.
Outside: Have adequate exterior lighting. A motion-sensitive light is recommended for backyards. Trim trees and shrubs so that they cannot be used as hiding places for intruders. Make sure your door hinges are on the inside.
Windows - Most windows can be pinned for security. Always close the windows when going out. Always Put Strong Grills on Windows.
Alarms - An alarm system is excellent for home security. It provides peace of mind to home owners, especially while on vacation. There is a wide variety of alarm systems on the market. Make several enquiries to different companies for the best security system available to you.
If burglars are certain no one is at home, they will feel safer committing a crime. They spend spare evenings looking for darkened houses or lights that have been left on too long. To reduce the possibility of burglary, be aware of these rules
When you are at Home, or at Work: Keep a record of serial numbers and descriptions of your household possessions. Inscribe your driver's license or social insurance number on your possessions so that police can identify them as yours and return them to you. Doors should have sturdy frames, with hinges that cannot be removed.
When you go away on Vacation...
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Whether you go away for the day or a week's vacation, use automatic timers that will turn lights on and off and give your home an occupied appearance.
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Leave a door key with a trusted neighbour and a key to the burglar alarm system, if you have one.
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Notify close neighbours about how long you will be gone and details of any persons who will be visiting your home during your absence.
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Have a neighbour pick up newspapers and mail or discontinue all deliveries.
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Check all windows and doors to make certain that they are locked.
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Lock your garage. Consider a house sitter.
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Provide your neighbour with the phone number of a close relative or friend in case of emergency.
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Leave your traveling schedule and phone number with a neighbour or relative so that you may be contacted if necessary.
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Check with your insurance agent with regard to home checks while your home is unoccupied. You may not be covered if your home has not been visited while you are away on vacation.
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An alarm can be a positive addition to the security system of any home. The life styles of some families make the installation of some kind of alarm even more necessary. If a home is vacant during the daytime or for the weekend or if the home is situated in an isolated location, it could be considered more vulnerable for a break-in than other homes.
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The addition of an alarm system is a good backup to physical security such as auxiliary locks and window security and can help to ensure greater peace of mind for those who must leave their homes unattended for extensive periods of time. Alarm systems are available in a variety of forms from the basic self-contained unit to suit a simple door or window, (these types are usually available through hardware or electronic stores), to more elaborate systems which can be wired to sound a bell or horn at the residence or at a central monitoring location. This will in turn notify the police.
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The decision to install any alarm should be made with careful consideration of the lifestyle of the residents using the system. For example, if there are several family members coming and going from the residence throughout the day, then a coded alarm system may be preferable to a keyed system. If there are animals in the residence then a motion detector may not be advisable as it could be accidentally triggered by pets roaming about the house. Make inquires of several reputable alarm companies before deciding which type to purchase.
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