The night I came home to find my front door open and my possessions gone
was one I will never forget.
The televisions and stereo could be replaced.
My grandmother’s jewelry would never be replaced. And my peace of mind wasn’t
restored for many years.
Since then I have taken simple steps to make my home safer.
Many of these steps are inexpensive and easy to achieve.
I’ve put them together in a
checklist that you can use for a safer home.
Install an alarm system with a panic button option
Have your alarm system monitored
Install alarm monitoring signs on doors and windows and in your yard
Install smoke alarms in all bedrooms, outside each bedroom and on each story of your home
Tip: Change batteries twice a year; reuse the old batteries for other non-critical applications or take to a recycling center
Add a smoke alarm system that can be monitored along with your house alarm system
Set the alarm to beep once if someone enters or exits a door
Set up different alarm codes for contractors, housekeepers or house sitters; if you terminate one of these, the code can be changed for this person without affecting the family code
Consider having one door keyed differently for contractors, housekeepers or house sitters who are given a key to your home; this way only one door lock would have to be changed if a service provider is terminated
Add deadbolts to all exterior doors
Tip: If a door has a glass panel in it, install a deadbolt that doesn’t have a turning latch on the inside but requires a key to open; hide a key inside the house nearby the door for family members in an emergency
Change locks if you move into a new home
Lock sheds or other buildings on your property
Set an interior light on a timer so that the house is not dark for extended periods
Install a solid interior door and deadbolt on one room in your home that can be use as a safe room
Leave exterior lights on (use energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs) during the night or install motion detectors on the exterior of your home
Trim back shrubs from windows and cut back tree branches that give access to upper floors
Don’t hide a key on the exterior of your house
Tip: Consider installing a keypad for your garage door opener if you want a second way to enter your locked home
Program all phones with emergency phone numbers
Keep windows covered in rooms with valuables like garages and home offices or media rooms
Make sure every family member has an emergency escape route
Make sure pool and spa drains have the proper covering
Secure accesses to pools and spas
If a vehicle is kept outside your home, lock doors and remove all valuables and the garage door openers
Don’t block fire hydrants with plants
Get to know your neighbors; you’ll have someone you trust to keep an eye on your home
If you live in snow country, don’t delay clearing access to your home in case of an emergency
Store poisons and dangerous chemicals in a locked cabinet
