Home
Security Checklist
Use
this as a guide as you check your home for safety measures. These are just some
of the steps you can take to decrease the likelihood that your home is
targeted.
Exterior
Doors
All
doors are locked at night and every time we leave the house – even if it’s just
for a few minutes. Doors are solid hardwood or metal-clad. Doors feature
wide-angle peepholes at heights everyone can use. If there are glass panels in
or near our doors, they are reinforced in some way so that they cannot be
shattered. All entryways have a working, keyed entry lock and sturdy deadbolt
lock installed into the frame of the door. Spare keys are kept with a trusted
neighbor, not under a doormat or planter, on a ledge, or in a mailbox.
Garage
and Sliding Door Security
The
door leading from the attached garage to the house is solid wood or metal-clad
and protected with a quality keyed door lock and deadbolt. The overhead garage
door has a lock so that we do not rely solely on the automatic door opener to
provide security. All garage doors are locked when leaving the house. The
sliding glass door has strong working key locks. A dowel or a pin to secure a
glass door has been installed to prevent the door from being shoved aside or
lifted off the track. The sliding door is locked every night and each time we
leave the house.
Protecting
Windows
Every
window in the house has a working key lock or is securely pinned. Windows are
always locked even when they opened a few inches for ventilation.
Outdoor
Security
Shrubs
and bushes are trimmed so there is no place for someone to hide. There are no
dark areas around our house, garage, or yard at night that would hide prowlers.
Floodlights
are used appropriately to ensure effective illumination. Outdoor lights are on
in the evening – whether someone is at home or not, or a Photocell or
motion-sensitive lighting system has been installed.
Our
house number is clearly displayed so police and other emergency vehicles can
find the house quickly.
Security
When Away From Home
At
least two light timers have been set to turn the lights on and off in a logical
sequence when we are away for an extended time period. The motion detector or
other alarm system (if we have one) has been activated when we leave home.
Mail
and newspaper deliveries have been stopped or arrangements for a
neighbor/friend to pick them up have been made when we go away from home for a
period of time.
A
neighbor has been asked to tend the yard and watch our home when we are away.
Outdoor
Valuables and Personal Property
Gate
latches, garage doors, and shed doors are locked with high-security, laminated
padlocks. Gate latches, garage doors, and shed doors are locked after every
use. Grills, lawn mowers, and other valuables are stored in a locked garage or
shed, or if left out in the open, are hidden from view with a tarp and securely
locked to a stationary point.
Every
bicycle is secured with a U-bar lock or quality padlock and chain. Bikes are
always locked, even if we leave them for just a minute.
Firearms
are stored unloaded and locked in storage boxes and secured with trigger guard
locks.
Valuable
items, such as television, stereos, and computers have been inscribed with the
identifying number approved by local police.
Our
home inventory is up-to-date and includes pictures. A complete inventory is
kept somewhere out of the house.