Have a trained security professional do an on-site security evaluation of your property. Make sure the security guard has all of the equipment necessary.
Make sure all exterior doors are either metal or solid wood to prevent kick-ins.
Install quality locks on all exterior doors. A knob and a deadbolt with a 1” throw are recommended for each door. If there is any glass near the locks, a double-sided deadbolt should be used to prevent glass breakage and unlocking of single-keyed locks.
Consider High-Security locks with keys that cannot be duplicated without your knowledge. We recommend Medeco and Schlage Primus High-Security Locks.
Always rekey your locks when first moving in.
Always be cautious about who has access to your keys (remember, most common keys can be easily duplicated without your knowledge).
The door strikes are where your real security lies. Make sure to replace the screws in door strike plates with two 3-inch screws that reach the studs in the door frame. This will significantly reduce the possibility of a kick-in.
Maintain landscaping around doors and windows. Consider short thorny bushes beneath windows.
Keep outside of home well-lit at night. Consider the use of motion-sensitive lights; burglars prefer darkness. Use timers on interior lights and radios when on vacation.
Make sure all windows have locking latches and use a vertical locking system on all sliding doors to prevent the lifting of doors from the track.
Make sure all exterior door hinges are on the inside and there are no gaps between the door and frame for prying attempts.
Get to know neighbors and get involved in a neighborhood watch program.
Dogs are a good burglary deterrent and serve as a warning to you.
Do not leave a spare key outside of your home in an obvious hiding spot.
Have a good condition roof, since this could be used as an entry point for robbers, is also useful to have clean gutters as well.
Always make sure windows and doors are securely locked before leaving home and at night.
Keep the garage overhead and door from garage to house locked and pay attention when shutting the garage so that no one sneaks in under the door as it shuts.
Install a good home security alarm with inside and outside sirens, battery backup, and even a cellular dialer.
