• Change or re-key
all locks when moving into a new house or apartment.
• Make sure your locks are good quality. Just because
the big home improvement store has it on sale for $9.99
doesn’t make it a good lock. People will spend thousands
on furnishings and electronics, but still buy the cheapest
locks to secure their property, that just doesn’t
make sense.
• Make sure every outside door has a sturdy, well-installed
deadbolt lock. Knob sets are not enough to provide good
security.
• Only give keys to a few trusted people and keep
a list of who you've given them to. If keys are ever lost
or misplaced, re-key all locks.
• Do not leave spare keys in obvious places like
under flowerpots or welcome mats. Instead leave an extra
key with a neighbor you trust.
• Do not have identifying tags on your key ring
that provides personal information such as your name or
address in case your keys are ever lost or stolen.
• Consider investing in locks with keys that cannot
be easily duplicated such as Schlage Primus or Medeco
High Security Locks, so you are sure copies of keys are
not made without your knowledge.
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• Consider investing in an alarm
system. Although alarm systems do not offer any immediate
protection (simply notification or noise) they do
act as a deterrent and should be considered only after
strong doors and locks are in place.
• Choose solid wood, fiberglass or metal doors
for exterior doors or install security gates. Be sure
that the door frames are solid and cannot be spread
without considerable effort.
• Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in
all entry doors so you can see who is outside without
opening the door. Door chains break easily and don't
keep out intruders.
• Make sure back doors and the doors that connect
your garage to you home are solid and secured with
high security deadbolt locks.
• Use locks on all windows. Don't forget garage
windows and crawlspace openings. |
