Unfortunately, no one can give you a 100% guarantee that your home will never be broken into.  Nevertheless, there are many safety and security precautions you can take to make your home more secure.

How to make break-ins and burglary harder?

• Do not let anyone into your house that you don’t know.  If they claim to be a service worker of some sort, make sure to ask for the proper identification prior to you letting them in.
• Make sure to always lock all your doors and windows.
• Install dead bolt locks on all of the external doors.
• Always change all the locks when you first move in.
• Never give your keys to any service workers, gardeners, cleaning crews or anyone else not you do not know well.
• Never have an ID tag with personal information and home address attached to your keys.
• Install keyed window locks and locks on your garage and shed.
• Make sure to have the outside of your home well lighted as a deterrent.

What should you do when you are away?

• Always leave your outside lights on, so that it appears as though someone is at home.
• Ask some you know and trust to check up on your home periodically.
• Have your mail held at the post office while you are away or have you know and trust pick up your mail every day or every other day.
• Make sure all windows and doors are shut and locked.  Don’t forget about your garage door and shed.
• Tell neighbors and the security patrol in your neighborhood (if you have one) that you will be out of town and for them to keep a look out for any unusual behavior.