Keeping Your Home Safe

Most burglars or intruders look for homes that appear easy to target. If your home looks unoccupied, unsecured, or unprotected, it may be at risk. To better protect your home, take a close look at all your entry points and consider how your home appears to someone on the outside.

Doors and Windows

• Use Strong Locks: All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks, not just spring-latch ones. Deadbolts provide extra security and are harder to force open.
• Always Lock Up: Keep doors locked at all times, even if you’re stepping out for just a few minutes.
• Secure Windows: Make sure all windows and sliding glass doors have up-to-date locks.
• Reinforce Sliding Entries: Place wooden dowels or steel bars in the tracks of sliding windows and doors to prevent forced entry.

Visibility from the Street

• Check Sightlines: Can your doors and windows be seen from the street? If not, it could be a problem.
• Trim Shrubs and Trees: Burglars often target entry points hidden by overgrown trees or bushes. Trim or remove obstructions so that all doors and windows are visible from the street or a neighbor's view.