Home Security A HOMEOWNERS CHECKLIST

Your Objective and the Fundamentals  Make your house look like it’s “more trouble than it’s worth”  Make it difficult to see inside  Make it difficult and time-consuming to get inside  Doors and windows should always be locked if you will be out of the house  Don’t leave tools or ladders out—can be used to get into your house  Establish a high-trust relationship with your neighbors – they can help you watch your house or identify if something seems abnormal

Outside the house - In front  Is there light on the road by your house? Does it light your house even if your lights are not on in the evening?  Can your neighbors see your windows and front door over any front landscaping (bushes) and under any trees?  Bushes height should be below windows (~2-3ft) and tree canopy should start above average height (~6-7 ft)  Is your front door well-lit at night?  Are the front windows?

Keys  Make sure you know where ALL the keys to your house are  Change the locks when you move into a new house  Optional but a good idea  If you live in an apartment, make sure you know who has access to keys  Don’t hide a key outside– potential intruders can find it  Leave a key with a neighbor you trust

Outside the house – Sides and Back  Trim trees so they can not be used to enter the second floor of the house  If you have a trellis make sure it can’t be used to gain entry  Place heavy gauge gravel around the outside ogt he house near windows  Makes noise when you walk on it  Avoid very large rocks that could be used to easily break a window  Fences limit access and convenience  Sheds or other storage should be lock  Tools or ladders can be used to gain entry to the house more quickly/easily

The Front Door (or any door) – Part 1  Solid core wood or metal door  Doors should fit tightly in the frame  Deadbolt lock—keyed outside and inside (double cylinder)  Use a quality lock  Hang inside key out of site from doors or windows  Deadbolt should extend at least 1 inch into door frame and should extend to its fullest  Make sure there is an emergency key near the door but at least 40 inches from a window. You need this in the event of a fire or other emergency to exit the house as quickly as possible.  Strike-plate should have 3 inch screws  This may not be possible with windows next to the door. There may not be sufficient depth.  Consider an extra-long strike plate (3+ feet for greater strength)  Decorative glass doors ( with windows to the sides of doors) are easier to break into  Use a security film or decorative grill-work over the windows (with non-removable screws)  Or use an external security door that open outward from the front door  If equipped with a peephole, use a wide-angle (160 degree) peephole low enough for all adults

The Front Door (or any door) – Part 2  Decorative glass doors (or with windows to the sides of doors) are easier to break into  Use a security film or decorative grill-work over the windows (with non- removable screws)  Or use an external security door that opens outward from the front door  If equipped with a peephole, use a wide-angle (160 degree) peephole low enough for all adults

Garage  Windows? Cover them so someone can not see inside  Opaque Window film or decorative paint are options  Most garage door openers have a cord that you can pull which allows for you to disengage the motor to manually open the door.  Remove it  Replace with a pole and hook you store out of sight but that is easily accessible  Make sure EVERYONE in the house knows how to open it in an emergency  If you park a car outside do not leave the garage door opener in that car  The interior garage door should also be locked  Consider an electronic/keypad deadbolt for ease of access  This door should be as strong as your front door – they have access to everything in your garage to open it  Consider adding a switch to remove power to the door opener if you will be out of town

Windows  Lock them when you are not at home – ALWAYS  Use a thin pvc-pipe to block the window from opening  Above for vertical-opening windows  Beside for horizontal-opening windows  Close curtains – make it hard for someone to see into the house  Blinds –  Downstairs: open them so them angle down towards the outside of the house – make it so you can see outside easily but someone can not see easily inside  Upstairs: angle the down towards the inside so people can’t see in the house

Alarms  If you have an alarm, use it – it’s useless if it’s turned-off  Glass-shatter/break sensors on the windows?  Door/windows open sensors?  Motion sensors at bedroom access points?  Bedrooms upstairs? Make sure there is full coverage on any stairways  Stickers on windows near main points of entry?  Signs in front AND back yard?

Sliding Doors  Sliding glass doors are fundamentally insecure  Use security film to make them shatter-resistant  Use a broomstick (or equivalent) to block the door from opening, or  Install a Charley-bar to also block the door form opening  Sliding doors can be lifted out – install a nail or screw above the door to keep it from being pulled up and out of the rails

The back and sides of the house  Lighting  All sides  High up, vandal resistant  On a timer – make sure it’s working right!  Motion detection activated  Motion detection lighting should have at least one sensor pointed at any door – if you see that light is on, you know someone/something is near that door

Your plan in an emergency  Make sure everyone in the house know the emergency plan  Get to your safe place, THEN call the police  If at all possible make a plan where everyone is together behind the same door – separation means confusion  Light and noise are your ally when someone is in or trying to get in your home  Put a key fob in your safe place to activate your car alarm  Can you turn on your outside lights from a central location

When you’re out of town – It should look like you’re home  Tell neighbors you know (and trust) you’ll be away  Give them contact information  Have Newspapers, mail, flyers picked up  Have someone put your trash cans out and then back in on trash day  Have a neighbor park in your driveway while you’re away  Put lights on timers  Put a radio or TV on a timer  Disable Garage Door Opener