Residential Crime Prevention Strategies

If you live in a relatively safe, low-crime area, then that's definitely something to be thankful for! However, very few -- if any -- neighborhoods are 100% crime proof, so it's always a good policy to "err on the side of caution."

By integrating some basic, common-sense home security measures into your daily routine, you can dramatically increase the chances that you and your family will remain safe. While each home has different security needs and potential vulnerabilities, there are several steps you can take to thwart burglaries and help prevent home intrusions.

• Be security conscious: Good habits are one of the cornerstones of keeping your home secure. If you get in the habit of locking doors every time you leave the house, then you're making it a lot less convenient for an intruder to enter your home. Even if it's just a neighbor, relative, or friend who might innocently let themselves in through an unlocked door, there might be personal papers on your desk, a private letter left out, or a sink full of dirty dishes that you'd prefer they didn't see! Locking your doors when you're not at home can help protect your privacy, as well as your security.
• Avoid leaving ladders out when you're not using them. One of the cardinal rules of home security is don't make it inviting and easy for a burglar to gain access to your home. Leaving your garage doors open when you're gone or allowing your first-floor windows to be covered by overgrown bushes are two other security breaches that many homeowners overlook.
• Create the impression that someone is home -- especially at night. Leaving lights on or having them come on automatically at a designated time is one smart strategy for discouraging break-ins and home intrusions. Outdoor illumination, such as lamp posts and motion-activated spotlights, are other easy-to-implement techniques for making your home more burglar resistant.
• Secure first-floor windows. Since homes can get pretty stuffy if you leave your windows closed all the time, it's nice to let fresh air circulate, whenever possible. Although opening your windows on a regular basis can be highly desirable to maintain comfort and indoor air quality, remembering to close and lock them when you're sleeping or away from the house is of even greater importance.
  
• More ideas to consider: If home security is a major concern of yours, it may pay to look into options like deadbolt locks, stronger doors, window and door sensors, and high-tech security systems that you can control from a mobile device.

While it's beneficial to make your entire family aware of the importance of home security, it's often a good idea to designate one person as the resident security chief, so to speak. When the "buck stops" with one specific person -- preferably an adult -- then there's less of a likelihood that important precautions will be forgotten or overlooked. Since every family's security needs are unique, creating a customized checklist for your own individual situation is the best solution.