OCR Text |
Show Fix n ytnii- home's security Following are some tips for protecting your house. STRONG DOORS WITH STRONG LOCKS: Doors are the first place a burglar will try. Outside doors should be solid wood or metal so they can't be kicked in. Don't be careless with keys. Burglars know all the hiding places, such as under doormats, in planters or mailboxes or on top of door frames. Instead, give your keys to a neighbor you trust. Also, carefully consider lock placement. It's simple, for example, for a burglar to break glass to reach in to a lock. Double locks that require a key on the outside and inside provide greater protection. SECURE WINDOWS AND SLIDING DOORS. Window locks that require a key to open are one way to stop a burglar. Another possibility is to insert pins or nails in holes drilled through the window's double frames where they overlap. When you want to open the window, merely pull out the pins. Dowels or a piece of broomstick broom-stick in the track of a sliding door can make it difficult for anyone to lift the door out of its track. GOOD LOCKS. Avoid locks with the keyhole in the doorknob. They can be opened with a knife or credit card. Instead, install a lock with a 1-inch throw and a tumbler cylinder with a cylinder guard ring. And be sure to use your locks. TRIM SHRUBS AND BUSHES. Keep bushes, shrubs and trees trimmed around doorways, windows and basement entries so burglars have no place to hide in the daylight. AUTOMATIC TIMERS ON INSIDE LIGHTS. When you're away from home, don't rely on one or two lights left on in the house at night. Automatic timers can be programmed to simulate a normal routine. Available at a nominal cost from most department or hardware stores, they're an excellent security investment. ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS. "New technology in home alarm systems allows the home owner to arm or disarm particular par-ticular security points in the house with the push of a few computer buttons on a control panel rather than disarming or arming at each point," says Jordan. "This allows home owners to arm the system while leaving selected doors and windows open for routine use allowing for the individual lifestyles of the family." OUTSIDE. No burglar likes to work in a spotlight. Keep outside lights on whether you are at home or away to illuminate darkened areas. The home owner should take as many precautions as possible to provide household security. |