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SECURITY
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ARE
YOUR DOORS LOCKED AT ALL TIMES?
It sounds simple, but in nearly half of all home
burglaries, intruders enter through an unlocked door,
inside garage door or patio. Lock your doors even if
you are just "running to the store or to a
neighbor's house." |
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DO
YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?
Get to know your neighbors, as friendly, caring
neighbors are your first line of defense. Watch out
for your suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
Join a Neighborhood Watch group if it's available, and
start one if necessary! Find out more from the
National Crime Prevention Counsel at http://www.ncpc.org. |
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IS
YOUR HOME SHIELDED FROM YOU BY SHRUBBERY?
Trees and hedges that are trimmed give intruders fewer
places to hide or be concealed from view when an
intrusion is attempted. |
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LIGHTS
OUT; NOBODY HOME?
Burned out outdoor lights signal that the homeowner
may be away. Using the cover of night, thieves
generally target homes with burned-out or generally
insufficient outdoor lighting. Consider upgrading
outdoor light fixtures with devices that have built-in
motion detectors that turn on the lights whenever
anyone walks past or schedule lighting with a routine
that matches dawn and dusk of the time of year. |
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ARE
YOU PREDICTABLE?
Thieves know the predictable hiding places and where
most of us keep our valuables. A jewelry box on top of
the dresser is practically a homing signal as well as
your dresser drawers, the freezer, under the mattress
and your cookie jar! |
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IS
YOUR HOUSE CASH RICH?
Avoid keeping large amounts of cash and jewelry in
your house. Thieves are looking for cash and
easy-to-carry things they can turn into cash quickly:
jewelry, silver, cameras and other electronic devices.
Keep small luxury items locked in a safe or well
hidden. Large items don't scare crooks off either –
TVs, VCRs, computers and stereos get their attention
too. Invest in a simple table/desk bolt for stereos,
computers and VCRs. If it's too difficult to steal
most thieves, looking to get in and out quickly, won't
bother. Get a safe deposit box for heirloom items and
things of value that your rarely use. |
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DO
YOU HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM?
Homes without security systems are about three times
more likely to be broken into than those without. 90%
of police believe alarm systems deter burglary
attempts. Losses due to burglaries average $400 less
in residences with security systems than those
without. Seeking the easiest possible course of
action, homes without alarm lawn signs and stickers
are vulnerable, especially if they are a rarity in
your neighborhood - you'll stick out by exception in
this regard. |
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DO
YOU HAVE A SMOKE DETECTOR?
Since most fire fatalities happen at night while
victims are asleep, and most fire victims are killed
by toxic and smoldering smoke and gases, not the fire
itself, an early warning signal is very important.
Contrary to a popular belief, the smell of smoke does
not always wake sleeping persons. Instead the
poisonous gases and smoke produced by the fire can put
sleeping persons into an even deeper sleep by
depriving them of oxygen. Only a working smoke
detector can provide the early warning signal needed
in a fire emergency. Smoke detectors are designed to
sound a loud, distinctive alarm that will wake
sleeping persons from a deep sleep, giving them enough
time to escape their burning home. The best smoke
detectors are part of your security system, so when
they go off, your monitoring company alerts the
authorities! |
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DO
YOU HAVE A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR?
While we are encouraged to seal off our homes from all
drafts and air leaks in the winter to conserve energy,
this practice also adds to the danger of carbon
monoxide poisoning. Typically a furnace, small camp
stove, lantern or other heating appliance produces
this gas. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and
deadly. Again carbon monoxide detectors are best as an
integral part of your security system, instead of
relying on a sound to awaken you from a deep sleep.
Carbon monoxide detectors often look just like smoke
detectors and are mounted with screws in the same way
smoke detectors are also. They should be mounted in
the same places in your home as smoke detectors are,
but also in temporary sleeping locations like campers,
RV's, etc. If you or your family has flu like symptoms
during the heating season and experience headaches and
nausea mixed with drowsiness, these are carbon
monoxide symptoms you may be experiencing. |
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DO
YOU HIDE YOUR KEYS?
Be careful with your keys. Many burglaries don't
require forcible entry. Don't hide a key in the
mailbox. Don't leave a spare key over the doorway. And
never leave your house key under the mat. These are
very common hiding places and the thieves know where
to look. Don't put ID tags on your key ring, much less
anything with your address. Don't give a potentially
unscrupulous person finds them, and know where the
keys are to! |
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