secure your home

Friday, May 18, 2012

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Fire safety tips

1. Install a smoke alarm in every level of the house and test it regularly

2. Plan escape routes in advance

3. When cooking, do not leave the food unattended. Never use water to put out a grease fire, but keep lids close and cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames

4. Do not light candles by anything that could easily catch on fire and never leave candles unattended

5. Purchase a fire extinguisher

6. Keep matches and lighters inaccessible for children

Preventing break-ins

Burglars may not bother to break in to your home if it would draw too much attention or if the break-in takes too much time. The following actions can protect your home from burglars.

1. Keep your windows and doors locked, not only while you are away but also if you are outside or on the other side of the house.

2. Keep the entrance well lit. Install lights activated by motion sensors and trim shrubs and trees so that they don’t cover doors or windows

3. Ensure your doors are strong - get solid-core wood or steel doors and cover glass on your door with break-resistant film

4. Lock up tools that a burglar could use to break into your home, such as a crowbar or a drill. Also do not leave a ladder in an easily accessible place.

5. Do not store your extra house key in an obvious place such as right under the doormat.

6. Do not display your last name on a sign in front of your house as a burglar who knows your name and address can phone you to check when nobody is home

7. Do not write your home address to your key ring or leave keys to a parking lot attendant

8. Hide valuable, irreplaceable things in a safety deposit box or in a place burglars would not think of. The first places where burglars look into are drawers and closets. Consider re-arranging your furniture if high-priced items can be easily seen through windows. Do not leave your purse and cell phone right by the door.

9. Engrave valuables and photograph items that cannot be marked. Make a list or a videotape of your possessions and keep this all in a safe, secure place – you might need to be able to access this list after a break-in or a fire.

10. Put the boxes of your new purchases in garbage bags instead of leaving them on the curb for every passer-by to see

11. While you are on vacation, arrange your mail to be picked up or stored at a post office. Also ask someone to mow your lawn or shovel the snow. Use timers to turn lights on and off at appropriate times to make it look like someone is at home. Do not leave a voice mail message or a note by the door telling that you are away from home.