Staying Safe at Home

Home

• Lock the doors, deadbolts
• Alarms
• Don’t tell anyone you are home alone
• Change locks
• Second floor apartments rather than first
• Keep ground floor windows locked
• Get to know your neighbors
• Ask who it is before opening the door to someone, never open the door to a stranger alone, unless they have proper identification- don’t allow any service personnel (telephone, repair services) in unless you specifically called them to come check something in your house out
• Make your home look occupied. TV, lights, radio, less chance of robbery
• Make sure exterior of house is well lit, and bushes are cut back so no one can hide in them
• Use motion detector lights by doors
• Lock all gates in fences
• Don’t have trellises or anything anyone can climb near any windows
• Keep ladders locked in garage
• Keep the garage door closed and the door to the house in the garage locked
• Have your house number visible so police or emergency personnel can find it quickly
• “safe haven room” in case someone breaks in, portable phone, cell phone service, weapon, locks, heavy door
• Fireproof safe, hidden
• Vary routine leaving and returning home
• Have a house sitter if u are involved in a funeral, wedding, etc.
• If you put an ad in the paper to sell someone have someone with you if someone comes to look at it or pick it up
• Do not go in to your house if it looks like someone tried to break in. go to a neighbors, call the police
• If you are at home and someone breaks in do not confront them unless you are physically threatened, call 911, make loud noises