| When someone knocks at your door and claims to | | | | few inches for ventilation. Unlocked windows are an |
| be an unexpected delivery man or government or | | | | easy way to get into your home. |
| meter reader, ask for a name and a badge number | | | | Use a dowel or pin or other approved way to secure |
| so you can call the agency and confirm the persons | | | | sliding glass doors. Check the security of your sliding |
| identity. Do NOT ask them for the phone # of their | | | | doors by trying to lift them off the track or |
| agency, you may be calling their criminal friend. Look | | | | otherwise open them. |
| up the agency phone number your self. If you | | | | Lock gates, garage doors, and shed doors. At the |
| cannot verify someones identity at your front door, | | | | end of the day in the yard, check that all these |
| call 911 immediately. | | | | doors are locked and secure. |
| Keep shrubs and bushes Trimmed and use outdoor | | | | Keep sheds and Garages Locked. Store cooking grills, |
| lighting to eliminate places where a prowler could hide, | | | | lawn mowers, bicycles, etc. in the garage or shed, or |
| especially around doors. | | | | cover them with a tarp and lock them to a |
| Install peepholes in Doorsat a height that everyone in | | | | stationary object. |
| your family can use. | | | | Leave spare keys with a trusted neighbor, not under |
| Be wary of anyone offering to do repairs or contract | | | | a doormat or planter or other obvious hiding place. |
| work door-to-door. Ask their name and company | | | | You could also hide it under a patio stone or other |
| name. Verify that a company is legitimate, look up | | | | inconvenient location, you will only need it in an |
| the phone number, call the company, ask if they | | | | emergence, not daily or even monthly. |
| have sales people in your area and get the salesmans | | | | Do not leave tools outside, where they could be |
| name. | | | | stolen or used to break into your home. |
| If someone wants to use your phone, offer to make | | | | Use timers to turns lights and televisions on and off |
| the call for them yourself. | | | | when you are not home. Make it appear someone is |
| Always Lock Exterior Doors, not only at night, but | | | | at home. |
| every time you leave the house, even if it's just for | | | | Make and keep a Complete home inventory. Record |
| a few minutes. Install and use only keyed dead bolt | | | | credit card numbers, appliances serial numbers, phone |
| locks for security. Cheap door handle locks are easily | | | | numbers of credit card companies so you can report |
| opened. | | | | stolen cards quickly and easily if they are lost or |
| Keep outdoor lights on in the evening -- whether or | | | | stolen. |
| not someone is home. If you only turn on when no | | | | If you are away for an extended time, stop mail and |
| one is home, it could signal more alert burglars when | | | | newspaper deliveries, ask a neighbor to remove any |
| you are not home. | | | | newspapers, mail or fliers that might indicate you are |
| Lock all Windows at all times, even when opened a | | | | not at home. |