TESTING 123.....

It is good idea to test anything not used daily on a normal basis.  I will reference a few related items, but you can use this for anything.

   There are several home safety & security items that you don't regularly use, all of which have the capability of failing due to a lack of maintenance.  Most of these only take a few minutes and not much effort.

1-Smoke Detectors:  Hopefully you will never need to actually use them, but when you do need them, they better work.  We suggest testing all of the detectors in your home once a month. 

2-Locks: A commonly used lock should function for a long time with little maintenance. But, one that is used less often could become sticky due to a lack of use. (dust & dirt floating in the air can stick to the lubrication inside causing them to seize.  I recommend oiling and tightening the screws on all of you locks and hinges twice a year.

3-Alarm:  Most security companies will offer a free service that will allow you to call them and they can check your system remotely for connectivity & low or dead batteries.

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MORE BARK THAN BITE!

  Dogs are great deterrents to burglars. Even a small, noisy dog can be very effective. Burglars do not like to have attention drawn to their presence, or the obstacle of a dog bothering them once inside.   A well trained dog can be a wonderful asset.  Barking at a ringing door bell may seem like an annoyance, but to a would be burglar, it is a warning.  Even showing your control over a well trained dog in public can intimidate someone with bad intentions.   They have to assume that if that dog will sit and stay when you tell it, it will also attack them or defend you when told. 
  If dog's are not your thing, consider an electronic version.  There are several options out there for this.  Basically a recording of a dog barking that can play based off of a motion detector or even a switch (like a doorbell) These work great in garages because the sound will often echo and seem larger than it really is. 

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THINK LIKE A BURGLAR

Take a few minutes and approach your home or business as if you were a potential burglar, you will probably surprise yourself how vulnerable we make ourselves.  As you approach the home, what do you see?    Is there any reference to an alarm that is noticeable? Such as a yard sign or window stickers.
  How about an open garage? I see so many homes driving around that leave their garage doors wide open all day.  Think about what is in there:Tools, cars, storage, etc.  Also, in my experience, most people do not think to lock the door from the garage to the house.
   Front doors, most likely the first place a burglar will check.  Is there a security door present, if not, how about a dead bolt lock on the entry door?  Burglars see these as obstacles, not wanting to work too hard, they will go somewhere else.
   Next, approach a window.  What do you see, flat screen? computer? Purse sitting on the table?  Consider drawing the shades when not home or when you don't need the light of the window.  Thieves are looking for the biggest payoff with the least amount of effort.  If they do not know what they are going in for, it will reduce the chance that they would take the risk.

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NOSEY NEIGHBOR

Become friendly and familiar with your neighbors.  Get to know their basic routines and who should be around, including service workers.  A new trend is for burglars to pretend to be service workers: landscapers, bug sprayer, house cleaners, etc.  I have heard several stories of a neighbor simply thinking the "Jones" family is just getting their lawn mowed and it turns out they are being robbed.  So keep and eye out for unfamiliar vehicle that could be posing as businesses.  Any legitiment business should have some kind of identification such as: logo on vehicle, uniform, badge, etc. See a landscaping truck and trailer but no workers or noisy lawnmower? Could be a problem......

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PLAN AHEAD!

Take time to go over some what if scenarios with your family.  These should cover all kinds of emergencies:fire, intruder, injuries, etc.

Examples:
    Fire- go over all of the exit possibilities in case of fire.  Doors, which windows are accessible, make sure all windows and doors are in good operating condition.  Even if they are not often used, open and close them regularly.  Even oil if needed.

    Security- What to do in case of an intruder while home.  Hiding spots, easy exits, safe room, even self defense.

  Injury-  Go over possible scenarios and figure out the best option for each.  Including first aid supplies, emergency phone #'s, neighbor's who can help

  If you see a story in the news, think about what you would do. 

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Create An Illusion!

Always create an illusion that someone is inside the home.  Most home burglaries occur in the middle of the day when nobody is around, or when a homeowner is out of town for a couple days.  Criminals look for those opportunities.  Below are a couple tips on how to create the illusion that somebody is home, even if they are not.
  Leave a TV on, in the day, an approaching would be thief can hear it and may assume somebody is sitting on the couch with a bag of lays.  At night, the TV will project different lighting in the room that will catch an eye of passing people.
  Postpone your newspaper delivery,  nothing says "nobody home" like a pile of untouched newspapers on the front porch.
  Have a home sitter or neighbor help you with the following:
   They can go in daily and turn on different lights.  One night living room,  kitchen the next. 
   If you have a mailbox on the home, have them collect it for you.  Similar to the newspaper, a mailbox bursting at the seams for several days is a tell tell sign.
   If it is winter, ask them to shovel your walks, or at least make foot prints to and from the door.
   Tell them to park in your driveway or have visitors park there.
Anybody watching the home may notice the activity.

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IDENTIFICATION!

    Many burlaries end with stolen goods being sold or pawned for a quick buck.  When a pawn shop buys something, they are required to enter serial numbers in to a database with police access.  If they are labled stolen, they are recovered by police and capable of being returned.  Also, whoever is pawning the goods is required to show identification to associate them with the item. 
   With that in mind, it is a good idea to take note of serial numbers of any goods in your home.  All mass produced items will have one; TV's, radios, computers, phones, ipods, etc.
   Also, along the same lines.  It is important to have copies of all personal information including those kept in a wallet or purse such as: ID, Credit Cards, etc.

  Also, keep a copy of them in a safe place like a saftey deposit box, safe, or trusted relatives home.

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