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The majority of people feel safest in their own homes. The statistics show this to be untrue. In my county last year, 1647 burglaries were residential. Seventy five percent of the rapes occurred in the victim's home. Over fifty percent of the murders were also in the victim's home.
With a little time and money, any home can be made more secure than it is now.
Here are just a few suggestions.
1. Alarms-If you have one, use it. If you don't have one, there are several companies that run installation specials. Check with your local Better Business Bureau for the best ones in your area.
2. Alarm stickers-Even without the alarm, these can be a deterrent. Place them in clear sight on windows and doors.
3. Bells above windows and doors-these can be acquired at any department or craft store. Colored glass bottles, animal figurines and such over windows will alert a homeowner when the window is raised..
4. Holly or cacti bushes beneath windows- these are cheap, hardy and very uncomfortable to step over. Ask anyone who has cut grass for a living as a kid and they can tell you how affective these are at making someone keep their distance.
5. Trimmed hedges- be sure yours are kept up. When trimmed, an assailant can't lurk behind in wait.
6. Photo cell or timed security lights around drive and entrances. There are also the motion detector types although these can be irritating for those with outside pets.
7. Dogs-Any dog is distasteful to a burglar. Large dogs are, a great deterrent, small yappy ones work well for an alarm.
8. If you have the old fashioned wooden windows, a simple step can make a world of difference in the security o the house. Use a small drill bit, and drill holes for nails to fit in. These holes must go through the first part of the window and into the one behind. These are placed at the top corner of the section that will lift. Insert nails (at least size 8D) into the holes. They can fit flush with window and are hard to locate unless you know they are there. They are easy to remove by the owner when needed but make raising the window impossible
9. Peep holes-Know who you are letting in. If you are not expecting anyone, try to look out a window as well to make sure there isn’t anyone hiding from sight of the door.
10 Install dead bolts - Chains are ornamental and it takes little effort to break one.
11. Sliding doors-Check their security. Believe it or not, some of these, even when locked, can simply be lifted out of their tracks. A small dowel rod can be inserted into the slider's track as an additional lock (this technique can also work for metal windows).
12. Know where ALL spare keys are. If your purse is lost with the keys in it, change locks immediately. The cost of a locksmith will seem a small price to pay when awaking to a stranger in your bedroom.
13. Solid gates-BEWARE of these. They offer dark hiding places.
14. Weapons – Know the location of these. Weapons of any sort are of no use when lost in a drawer, under the bed or in the top of a closet.
15. Flash lights - Know where they are and remember, if needed, they make an excellent weapon
16. Your home - KNOW it and be able to move in the dark. This is a great advantage over an assailant who has never been into your home before..
17. Mirrors – Placed strategically, these can allow you to see around a corner or into another room.
18. Neighbors - Know their names and numbers. Learn their routines and set up an alarm signal with them.
19. Call for help - If you hear something outside, call for help. The police are on duty for a reason, so take advantage of it. It is better to feel silly for calling them out on a false alarm, than going out to check and finding a gun or knife suddenly pressed against you.
20. Plan of attack - Make up and practice YOUR plan of attack. Think of scenarios and how you would or could handle them. Examine your options and experiment with possibilities.
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