 | Doors should be hinged from the inside |
| Doors should be made out of solid wood, fiberglass or steel |
| External doors should have dead bolt locks |
| External doors should have peepholes |
| Sliding glass doors have weak locks, install a bolt lock and use a broomstick or dowel for inside door jam |
| Secure basement windows with grills and grates |
| Place pins through the window frames to secure windows |
| Stop all mail |
| Leave a little trash in garbage can |
| Make sure lawn is mowed and sidewalks are cleared and cleaned |
| Use a timer to turn on and off lights |
| Lock all doors and secure all windows |
| Let neighbors know when you will be back in town |
| Never leave a key under a door mat, on a sill, or in a mailbox. Leave it with a trusted neighbor |
| Trim hedges next to your house so burglars do not have a place to hide |
| Mark all valuables with Social Security numbers, driver's license and state abbreviation |
| Dogs can prevent burglaries |
| Have the locks changed when moving into a new house |
| Get active in your neighborhood watch or start one |
| Find a security system you can operate and feel comfortable with |
| Leave lights on outside at night |
| Timers should be used to turn on and off lights, make sounds and open and close drapes |
How to make your house more secure