• Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars. Thieves are also quick to spot weak locks that may be easily forced open. Doors should have deadbolt locks with a one inch throw and reinforced strike plate with three inch screws. All windows should have window locks.
  • Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.
  • Always lock the door to an attached garage. Don't rely on your automatic garage door opener for security.
  • Create the illusion that you are home. by using timers on lights, radios and TV's. Making your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home, will deter criminals.
  • Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Installing low voltage outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage intruders, as well as highlight a house.
  • Never leave clues that you are away on a trip. Have a trusted neighbor collect mail and newspapers while you are away so delivered items do not accumulate. You can also ask a neighbor to park in your driveway or parking place to make it appear that you are present.
  • Keep some shades and blinds up and curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your residence.
  • Never leave a message on your telephone answering machine telling people that you are away from home. A message that you will return at a certain time leaves your home vulnerable in the interim.
  • Keep shrubbery trimmed away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars who need only a minute to break in through a window or door.
  • Organize a community watch program to protect your neighborhood. An alert community is a safe community.
  • Trim any shrubbery or trees that hide doors or windows.
  • Place out-door lights where they are hard to reach.
  • Every external door of your house should have a deadbolt lock.
  • Keep valuables away from windows where they can be easily seen.
  • With identity theft on the rise, make personal information on your home computer hard to access, and avoid keeping personal papers in your desk or home office.
  • Don't put your home address on your luggage.

  • Losses due to burglary average $400 less in residences with security systems than for a residence without security systems.
  • A study in Connecticut showed that 12% of burglaries occurred through an UNLOCKED door.
  • A study in Connecticut showed that in 41% of alarmed homes that were burglarized, the security system was not turned on.
  • The holiday season, when folks are away from home more than usual, is a prime time for residential burglaries (FBI 2003)

  • 81% of residential intrusions occur through the first floor.
  • 34% of burglars entered through the front door.
  • 23% of burglars enter through a first-floor window.
  • 22% of burglars enter through the back door.
  • 9% of burglars enter through the garage.
  • 4% of burglars enter entered through a basement.
  • 4% of burglars enter through an unlocked entrance.
  • 2% of burglars enter through a storage area.
  • 2% of burglars entered anywhere on the second floor.
  • Space heaters are the leading cause of home fires in December, January, and February. (National Fire Protection Association)