EL SEGUNDO HERALD September 17, 2015 Page 9 Follow Us on Twitter @heraldpub 5 Tips to Keep Your Home Safe while You’re Away See Safe Home, page 10 (BPT) - In the movies, burglars are smart and prepared, but in real life, most breakins are committed by thieves looking for a “quick win” - a house or apartment they’ll be able to rob with as little trouble as possible. What better time to strike than when residents are on vacation? It makes sense that 74 percent of burglaries in the U.S. are residential, and most break-ins happen during June, July, and August. Here are five simple ways to protect your house or apartment from unwanted intruders while you’re enjoying your time off this summer. Locks “Lock your door” may sound obvious, but the FBI recently calculated that more than 34 percent of burglaries were committed without using force. That means criminals came in through an unlocked door or window and grabbed whatever they wanted. A good deadbolt is a great first line of defense, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t use it. Here are a few tips to make sure you’ve got your bases covered: • Establish a routine to check locks on windows and doors each night before bed. • Test each lock to make sure it’s working properly. • Always use your deadbolt. • Install a door latch shield around locks to deter crowbars. Video “Having a home security system with video is essential because it will alert you if there’s an intrusion or problem in your home, and give you detailed information about what’s happening,” says Ira Weiss, a retired New York Police Department detective. “A security system is not only a strong deterrent to thieves, but if you’re unfortunate enough to experience a burglary, it can provide excellent evidence after the fact.” You don’t need cameras in every room to stay safe - just make sure you’re covering the main entrances, exits, and other hightraffic areas (e.g. the kitchen), and position your cameras strategically. Many solutions like the Canary home security device even incorporate a camera and other features into the same unit, so you don’t have to set up extra hardware. Since these all-in-one systems give you a lot of bang for your buck, look for home security that includes: • Easy setup and use • An HD camera • A wide-angle lens • A siren to frighten away intruders • Smartphone updates and notifications • The ability to contact local authorities no matter where you are. Community support If you know you’re going to be out of town for a while, the people in your community can help keep your home safe. • Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail every day and stop by your house to make sure everything is fine. • On garbage day, have a friend take out your trash and recycling for you.
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