Tips help drive burglars away / LJWorld.com

Archive for Sunday, August 17, 2008

August 17, 2008

House break-ins peak during the vacation months of July and August, the Insurance Information Institute says. These tips from the institute can help protect your home:

¢ Thieves want to get in and out of your home quickly and quietly. Thwart them by adding deadbolts to windows and doors and perhaps investing in a burglar alarm.

¢ Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors and frames should be made of metal or solid hardwood and be at least 1-inch thick, and doors should fit in their frames securely.

¢ Garage doors should have strong locks. If you have a tool shed, keep it locked, too. Burglars could use the tools to break into your house.

¢ Keep valuables locked up and well-hidden. Expensive jewelry should be hidden somewhere other than a bedroom or left in a bank safety-deposit box.

¢ Put critical documents in a lock box or safe somewhere other than in a home office or desk. Keep copies at another location, such as a relative's home.

¢ Light your home's exterior well. Mount lights out of easy reach.

¢ Make the house look inhabited. Leave blinds or curtains open in their usual positions. Put indoor lights on timers. If you'll be gone long, arrange to have your lawn mowed or your driveway cleared of snow.

¢ Have mail picked up or held at the post office. Stop newspaper deliveries.

¢ Ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home and pick up circulars. You also might tell the police you'll be away.

¢ Tell only people you know and trust that you'll be gone. Don't discuss your vacation plans at public places such as the supermarket or hairdresser.