This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Saskatchewan is known for its beautiful scenery, peaceful camping sites and bountiful fishing spots. Being one of the larger inland provinces in Canada, its residents enjoy what is often called a “warm, continental climate”. However, a small-time burglar recently caused a stir in this prairie province, being dubbed the “Samurai Burglar”.

Earlier this month, Adam Theodore Snell is suspected to be the man that broke into a Saskatchewan credit union in a rural area. However, this break-in was executed while he was dressed in elegant black, and carrying a samurai sword.

Coincidentally enough, Snell actually was the one to turn himself in to police. He is suspected to be connected to several other crimes, including three home break-ins, robbery of a post office and robbery of a corner store.

The apparent “Samurai” incidient took place on April 13th, 2010. The video surveillance at the credit union captured a black-clad man, who not-so-expertly poked at a large machine with his samurai sword. The machine was apparently designed for automated banking. Other footage from the video shows the man darting around obstacles, smashing through windows, and crawling through the broken glass. According to officials, at least one of the doors that he smashed through was actually unlocked. This surveillance video has not yet been released to the public.

Adam Snell, the "Samurai Burglar".

This is apparently the only incident in which Snell used a samurai sword as a burglary tool. The other crimes that he’s suspected in are fairly typical robberies. When he allegedly attempted to force a corner store employee to give him cash from the register (and she wasn’t able to), he left the store carrying the entire cash register. On April 26th, 2010, police also suspect that Snell was a man that was allegedly spotted stuffing his pockets with cigarettes and money from a 7-Eleven store.

According to the latest police reports, Snell is scheduled to appear in court on May 3, and may be charged with all of the crimes he is suspected in.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

You may have read about the “Acrobatic Thieves”, who were able to successfully make off with over $26,000 worth of merchandise from a New Jersey Best Buy store. Apparently their successful entry through the roof of a commercial building is catching on. A single thief attempted to plan his own spectacular roof entry, in order to burglarize a business.

This daring thief decided that an Oklahoma drugstore would be the target for his brilliant robbery plan. He somehow made it on to the roof of the drugstore, then made a grand entrance by breaking through the ceiling. However, his epic entrance ends up setting off the burglar alarm.

Thankfully for this thief, he had a backup plan. In order to avoid getting caught, all he had to do was exit the drugstore the same way that he came, right? He decides to go back through the ceiling (not clear why he didn’t try to use the door) by using a ladder. The footage from the security tape follows:

Click here to view the embedded video.

As you can see, this isn’t exactly the most smoothly executed burglary escape. The thief falls off his ladder an astounding seven times before he’s able to get away, and some of the falls actually look quite painful.

This story was covered by a few news networks. In this particular clip, the news anchors even have trouble reporting the story, breaking out into giggles as they watch the footage of the burglar falling off of the ladder:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Coverage by another (more serious) news anchor:

Click here to view the embedded video.

As far as we can tell from recent news reports, this thief is amazingly still at large, and police do not have any potential suspects in this attempted burglary.

We all love to read stories about stupid criminals, botched burglaries and dumb carjackers. However, with each one of these funny stories, it’s important to take a step back. Take some time to reflect on what you can learn from this burglar’s experience. Entering through the roof has recently become a trend for many burglars who target businesses, and this trend may begin to make its way to home burglaries as well. Does your skylight have a nearby glass break detector? Are your second-story windows protected by sensors? Is your monitored security system equipped to cover all of the entry points of your home?

While it may seem impossible to plan for every worst-case-burglary scenario, it’s still extremely important to use your common sense. Never fail to address a potential security vulnerability in your home because you think a burglar won’t find it. Though there are a lot of dumb criminals, there are also many highly intelligent burglars that have the skills to bypass most conventional security methods. These burglars often make a career out of their chosen profession, which takes advantage of people who don’t take the time to protect their home’s security. Spend a significant portion of time evaluating all potential security vulnerabilities in your home, and take the appropriate measures to protect them.

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

The invention of land-line telephones dates back to the late 1800′s. The patent for the telephone was credited to Alexander Graham Bell, on March 10th, 1876. However, his invention would not have been possible without the 1831 reserach of Michael Faraday, who discovered that vibrations in metal could be converted into electrical impulses. In 1861, Johnann Philip Reis was able to succesfully construct a device which could convert sound into electricity, then back into sound. However, it was Alexander Graham Bell who is today recognized by most experts as being the father of the telephone.

Over a century later, it could be argued that the technology of the land-line telephone may be on its way to extinction. In fact, over 20%  (roughly 20 million) of homes today communicate only with cellular phones, without having a land-line telephone installed. When it comes to home security, this can often present a problem, since many monitored home security systems rely on having a constant telephone connection in order to report an emergency. If you’re one of the households without a landline telephone (or simply want a system that doesn’t rely on a phone line) you may want to look in to investing in a Wireless Burglar Alarm.

Practicality of Wireless Burglar Alarms

Since a wireless burglar alarm doesn’t need to be constantly connected to a phone line, it can be used even in some emergency situations. Some burglars may cut the landline before entering a home, assuming that this will also disable the security system. If the phone lines in your area are damaged, it can prevent your monitored security system from reporting an emergency. A wireless burglar alarm provides both a practical and useful solution to these problems.

How It Works

Cellular monitoring works a bit differently from traditional security monitoring. The security system usually comes with a digitial cellular transceiver, which is installed directly into the system’s control panel. To activate the service, you usually need to establish a service contract, which will cost you extra each month. The terms of this contract depend on the company from which you receive the cellular service.

When the system detects an intrusion, one of two things may happen:

• If the system is designed to work as a backup to an existing landline phone, it will first check for a landline dial tone. If no dial tone is present, the system will use a wireless cellular signal to reach the monitoring station.
• If the system is designed to work as a replacement for a landline monitored security system, it will immediately use the cellular line to broadcast an elert to the monitoring station.

Add-On Features

A security system that uses wireless monitoring technology can usually be integrated with most of the same sensors as landline security systems. This includes:

• Carbon Monoxide Sensors
• Smoke Detectors
• Glass Break Sensors
• Motion Detectors
• Video Surveillance

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

The news archives are filled with stories of bumbling criminals, unsuccessful robberies and funny antics of failed burglary attempts. However, in October of 2009, a thief nearly got away with his burglary of a Florida home, if it wasn’t for him leaving identifying pictures at the scene of the crime. The man’s name was Scano Sinclair, and he was already a repeat offender for other burglary attempts. However, on this particular day, Sinclair had an accomplice. The two men decided to pull off an armed robbery/burglary, with procuring cash as their main objective.

A woman in Tamarac, Florida awoke one morning to find two men standing over her, guns drawn. The men demanded that she give up any cash that was currently located in the residence. The 25 year old woman complied, and the two burglars eventually fled the scene, getting away with several thousand dollars cash. However, one of the men made a crucial mistake.

This is one of the actual photos of the robber, which he left on his cell phone at the scene of the crime.

Upon quickly leaving the home, one of the men dropped his cell phone. The phone also contained several pictures of Scano Sinclair himself, as well as several photos of Sinclair’s vehicle. When shown the pictures, the female victim was able to identify Sinclair as being one of the men who had broken in to her home. This allowed police to confirm his identity. The photos of the vehicle were also matched to surveillance videos that caught the same vehicle leaving the victim’s apartment complex.

In an oddly related twist, it’s reported that Scano Sinclair had also attempted to rob the victim’s boyfriend, at a home on Shoma Drive in Palm Beach County two weeks earlier. However, that robbery attempt was unsuccessful. The victim’s boyfriend didn’t report the crime until his girlfriend was targeted in this robbery. Due to the nature of both robberies being home invasions, police believe that they were not coincidental, and the victim was targeted on purpose. Police have commented that they do not suspect the female victim, or her boyfriend of any criminal activity that could have led to the robberies.

With the provided evidence, police were able to trace the vehicle to Scano Sinclair’s address in Miramar, Florida on the 1800th block of Southwest 103rd Ave.

It’s very fortunate for both victims that the thief dropped his cell phone, which allowed police to gain a lead in this case. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t always rely on the stupidity of criminals to give you the advantage. The best way to prevent ever being in a compromising situation is to take measures to protect yourself from any type of intrusion. This includes installing high-security deadbolt locks, purchasing a monitored security system, and surrounding your home with motion-activated security lighting.

Anyone with information about Sinclair’s whereabouts can contact BSO Robbery Detective Tony Hierrezuelo at 954-321-4270, or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Broward County at 954-493-TIPS or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

Sources:

http://sheriff.org/about_bso/admin/media/newsdetails.cfm?pk=2979&sType=M

http://www.wpbf.com/news/21428686/detail.html

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

In action movies, a masked antagonist often sneaks up to a home by slowly creeping though the shadows. There’s the distant sound of a dog barking, and he freezes momentarily. After several seconds, he relaxes, and makes his way up to the door of a house. He pulls out two thin pieces of metal, inserts them into the high-security lock, and suddenly – click – the door opens. The thief slips inside, the camera following his movements.

However, it may be natural to wonder – is it really that simple? Is all that’s standing between your deadbolt and a burglary the skills of an experienced thief? For all your home security measures, is it really that easy for a thief to simply pick open your locks?

Misconceptions About Lock Picking

Contrary to what one might believe, lock picking isn’t reserved simply for criminals. A skilled locksmith must have an extensive knowledge of lock picking, which is often used for legal purposes. There are also some individuals who make a hobby out of picking “burglar-proof” or high security locks, which is a sport sometimes referred to as “Locksport“.

A warded lock, which is one of the earlier lock types. They are still used in areas of Europe.

The Basic Construction of a Lock

In order to understand why lock picking can be effective to open a lock, it’s first important to have a very basic understanding of how locks work. When you insert your key to open a door, the grooves on your key push up many tiny “pins” inside the lock. When the pins are in precise alignment (from being pushed by the key), the key is able to turn, and the door opens. While single-sided keys push up one set of pins, double-sided keys push two sets of pins (above and below), and four-sided keys push four sets of pins to their correct alignments. Today, the most common type of lock for many houses are the basic one-sided pin-tumbler locks. Other types of locks (such as lever locks, paracentric locks, tubular pin-tumbler locks, etc) are less common.

Lock Picking Tools

There are several different tools that are most commonly used for lock picking:

Classic Lock Picking Tools

• Torsion Wrench (Torque Wrench)
• Half-Diamond Pick
• Slagel Pick
• Decoder Pick
• Hook Pick
• Ball Pick
• Warded Pick
• Rake Picks
• Bump Keys

A Manual Lock Pick Gun.

Common Locksmith Tools

• Manual Pick Gun (Snap Gun)
• Electric Pick Gun

Lock Picking Methods

General Lock Picking
A simple pin-tumbler lock is fairly easy to pick, to someone with the right tools and a basic knowledge of locks. A tension wrench (or torque wrench) is applied inside the lock to provide leverage for the pick. The pick (which is often curved) is used to press upwards on the pins inside, until they are above the shear line. With the correct timing, it’s possible to click the pin into place by applying a circular force to the lock at the precise moment the pin is in the correct place. This process is repeated with the remaining pins, until the lock opens.

An illustration of general lock picking.

Warded Lock Picking
A warded lock is a special kind of lock that uses obstacles in order to prevent the lock from being picked. The obstructions inside the lock slot match grooves that are carved into the key, which is how the key is able to rotate inside the lock. Warded locks are actually a bit easier to pick than some other types of locks, since they can be bypassed with a warded pick (also called a skeleton key). Warded locks are actually one of the earliest types of locks, tracing their origins back to ancient China.

Reverse Picking
In reverse lock picking, the process is slightly different. First, all of the pins need to be set above the shear line. After this is accomplished, the torsion is gradually reduced until the lock is successfully picked. Reverse picking is most commonly used for locks that have anti-picking pins.

Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is designed only to give you a general understanding of how lock picking works. This information should never be used as a reference to participate in, instigate or otherwise attempt any illegal activities.

Sources:

http://www.theultimatelock.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/key3.PNG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/PKXGUN-M.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Warded_locked.png

http://www.coolest-gadgets.com/wp-images/lock_picking_set_full.jpg

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Communities everywhere are seeing an increase in theft or robbery. Some say that these increases in crime are because of poor economic conditions. How is the state of the economy connected to crime rates? Does crime really increase in periods of recession, or is it simply a myth?

Signs of a Tough Economy

There are several indicating factors that can signal an economic downturn. In most cases, this includes:

• Decrease in Property Values
• High Unemployment Rates
• Stock Market Crash
• Job Cuts
• High Rate of Home Foreclosures
• Increased Number of Bankruptcy Filings

Theory: Bad Economy = More Crime

A lot of people believe that when money is tight, people are more likely to resort to desperate measures. Unfortunately, some of those who are unemployed, and struggling to feed their families, may turn to burglary or theft in order to keep up with their expenses.

An independent research study conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum reported that in January of 2010, 44% of police departments believed that they were seeing an increase in crimes that were directly related to the poor state of the economy. Other reported statistics from this study included:

• 40% increase in theft
• 32% of departments surveyed had an increase in burglaries
• 39% of departments surveyed had an increase in robberies

Many of these crimes are “opportunistic” crimes, such as the theft of GPS devices from vehicles.

However, the increase might not only be caused by personal financial hardship. Since many areas of a community experience cutbacks during hard economic times, many police agencies are also being hit with cuts. Budgets for police stations are being cut nationwide, with the same study reporting that 63% of agencies reporting that they believed that their funding would be cut further within a year. With the lack of a good budget, police agencies aren’t able to respond as efficiently to prevent crime. This also may cause a decrease in patrols, which could also be construed to contribute to higher crime.

Theory: Economic Conditions Have No (or Very Little) Impact on Crime

Some people believe that the economic situation does not affect the overall crime rate in a community. Many advocates of this theory point to the Great Depression, which had a relatively low crime rate. By comparison, the “Roaring 20′s”, which were a period of perceived economic prosperity, had a relatively high crime rate. According to David Kennedy from John Jay Criminal Studies, the same pattern occurred in the 50′s and 60′s – an expanding economy, but higher crime rates.

What do you think?

It’s hard to say which side is right in this debate. Since the current recession is still in progress, it’s hard to tell what projected crime rates would have been in a good economy, compared to what they are currently.

Statistics are one thing, but it’s personal experiences that really speak volumes about the true nature of crime. How about you? Have you seen an increase in crime in your neighborhood during tough economic times? Or, has your community become closer in a bad economy, resulting in a lower crime rate?

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In 1996, a blind man named Courtney Beswick was minding his own business, when he was suddenly attacked. His attacker was Anthony Ervin, who no doubt believed that stealing money from a blind man would be simple. However, Beswick refused Ervin’s demands for money, so Ervin attacked him. Little did Ervin know, that Beswick was a trained martial artist. Beswick used a martial arts move to toss Ervin over his shoulder when he attacked. The fall broke Ervin’s neck, and he died.

After this occurred, the subject was brought up of civil and criminal charges being filed against Beswick for killing Ervin, even though Beswick acted in self-defense. However, the police eventually decided not to file charges. [1]

The Truth About Self Defense Laws

Oddly enough, Beswick’s avoidance of criminal charges isn’t as common as you may think. Though the law advocates self defense, the parameters are a bit strict. Technically, you are allowed to use necessary, non-deadly force in self-defense anytime you believe that unlawful force will be used against you. The important distinction there is “non-deadly force”. The only time that deadly force is permitted, is when the victim reasonably believes that their life is in immediate danger. The term “reasonable belief” is another important part of self defense law.

Self Defense By State

Many states have different definitions for “reasonable force“, “deadly force“, “non-deadly force” and “reasonable belief“. From 2005 – 2006, 15 states have modified their self-defense laws to allow victims to use deadly force when their lives are in danger. However, these expanded laws usually apply to victims that are within the boundaries of their own homes or vehicles.

“The Florida law, which served as a model for the others, gives people the right to use deadly force against intruders entering their homes. They no longer need to prove that they feared for their safety, only that the person they killed had intruded unlawfully and forcefully. The law also extends this principle to vehicles.” [2]

Essentially, this means that citizens are allowed to use “deadly force” to protect their property. Further exploration into these modified laws also addresses what people should do if attacked in a public place.

“…The law does away with an earlier requirement that a person attacked in a public place must retreat if possible. Now, that same person, in the law’s words, ‘has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force.’ The law also forbids the arrest, detention or prosecution of the people covered by the law, and it prohibits civil suits against them.” [2]

The states that expanded their self-defense laws from 2005-2006 include:

• Alaska
• Idaho
• Colorado
• Arizona
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Kansas
• Oklahoma
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Michigan
• Tennessee
• Kentuckey
• Indiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• South Carolina
• Georgia
• Florida

Each state’s self-defense laws are different, however. It’s always best to read your specific state’s self defense laws, in order to avoid a situation in where you could be prosecuted for defending yourself.

Castle Doctrine

A “Castle Doctrine” (also called “Defense of Habitation” ) is a law that focuses on giving individuals the right to defend their “castle”, or home. It also gives people the power to protect from illegal trespassing, violent entry, or other activities on their property that may cause them harm. A Castle Doctrine also gives people the ability to protect other innocent people in their home from harm when necessary. If an intruder or attacker is subjected to lethal force by a person defending their home, and the criminal dies, it could potentially be classified as “justifiable homicide”.

However, the Castle Doctrine is subject to a number of restrictions. The person on your property must be committing an illegal act in order for you to act in defense. In addition to this, the occupant of the home must reasonably believethat the intruder or trespasser intends to do them harm, or commit an illegal activity. [3]

Currently, the following states (listed in alphabetical order) have officially adopted the Castle Doctrine Law:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Florida
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• North Dakota
• Ohio, Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

States that are not listed here may have modified versions of the Castle Doctrine, may be in the process of adopting the Castle Doctrine, or may have special laws regarding self defense rights.

Sources:

[1]http://www.ittendojo.org/articles/general-4.htm

[2]http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/07/us/07shoot.html

[3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Doctrine

This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

While installing a deadbolt lock can be a great way to help increase the security of your home, not all deadbolts are created equally. Inferior design, low-quality materials and other defects can directly affect the effectiveness of deadbolts. Considering the many options that are available, choosing the right type of lock for your home can seem like an intimidating task. However, with the right information, it is possible to greatly improve your chances of purchasing a high-quality lock.

Lock-Picking Vulnerability
Though picking a deadbolt lock can be time-consuming, there are many skilled burglars that have this skill. In order to help prevent your lock from being picked, it’s best if you choose one with a high-security cylinder. High-security locks often have special pins, which can not be picked with standard lockpicking tools. Though a bit more expensive, it’s always best to opt for the high-security option when choosing a deadbolt lock.

Check the Length of the Bolt
If deadbolts have a bolt that is fairly short, the door can be easily opened with the use of a crowbar or other prying tool. To prevent this, choose a deadbolt lock that has at least a one-inch extension into the doorframe. Though this may make installation of the deadbolt a bit more time-consuming, it’s an effective method to help increase the security of your home.

Evaluate the Material
One way that deadbolts can be vulnerable to burglars is if they are made of specific materials. A lock made of a relatively soft metal, such as brass, will be able to be sawed through with a minimal amount of effort. Many burglars have adapted to use tools such as hacksaws to infiltrate low-quality deadbolt locks. To prevent this, it’s best if you choose a lock that has a bolt constructed of steel.

Cylinder Guards
In some types of deadbolts, the cylinder guard (the circular metal part where you insert your key) can be infiltrated by being forcibly removed with a wrench. If you purchase one with a tapered cylinder, it will not be able to be easily removed with this method. For additional security, you may also choose to go with a “free-spinning” Cylinder, which is also much harder to remove with a wrench.

A Note About Price
Considering that there are some advanced security deadbolts that can cost upwards of $200, you may want to set a budget limit for your deadbolt lock. However, as with all home security purchases, you often have to make sacrifices in quality for a lower priced deadbolt lock. Since a lock is such an important part of your home’s level of security, it should be a purchase that you carefully consider. While it may not seem practical to spent a large amount of money on a lock, it’s best if you first evaluate your specific security needs. If you feel comfortable making a small compromise with the quality of your lock, you may opt to purchase a lower-cost deadbolt. However, if you follow the tips outlined above, you stand a much better chance of being able to increase the safety and security of your home.

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When it comes to your own safety, the absolute best thing that you can do is to get involved. Having control over the amount of security in your home can be accomplished by installing a home security system, motion-sensing lights and burglar-proof locks. However, another important part of being involved in your home’s level of security involves your neighbors. While introducing yourself to your neighbors is a great first step, it’s highly recommended that you become involved in your neighborhood’s watch program. There are many benefits that result from being a part of a Neighborhood Watch program, which can help you to increase the security of your community.

Discourage Criminals
In some cases, the presence of a Neighborhood Watch in a community is enough to deter potential burglars from stealing from nearby homes. Most burglars take advantage of opportunities where they are able to act undetected. By having a watch program, a burglar will have less of a chance of being able to steal from a home without getting caught.

Protect Your Home
Besides helping to monitor your neighborhood for burglars, you are also helping to increase the security level of your own home. It’s a proven fact that a Neighborhood Watch program helps to lower crime rates in a community, which subsequently decreases the chance that your own home will be the target for a criminal.

Get to Know Your Community
Being a part of a Neighborhood Watch program is a great way to become better acquainted with the members of your community. By knowing the people in your neighborhood, there is a better chance that they will go out of their way to help monitor your home’s security.

Aid Your Local Police Force
Having a Neighborhood Watch program in a residential area helps to take some of the surveillance burden off of the local police force. Because of this, it also helps to increase the ability of the police to quickly respond to crimes. In most cases, a police officer will volunteer to attend local Neighborhood Watch meetings, in order to provide helpful information about how to protect your community from criminals.

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This post is originally authored at the home security blog at FamilyHomeSecurity.com.

Winter is a season full of turkey dinners, family visits and Christmas shopping. During the holiday months, thousands of people will be going on vacations to visit friends and family. However, the holiday season is often an opportunity for burglars to take advantage of homes that have been left unguarded while their residents are on vacation. To ensure that you are able to enjoy your holiday festivities, it’s important if you take precautions that your home will be protected. Here is a simple checklist that you can use to ensure that your home is at a lower risk for a fire, break-in or other catastrophic event.

1. Did You Set Your Light Timers?
Since many burglars take advantage of homes that appear to be deserted, it’s highly recommended that you set your interior lights on light timers. These timers are relatively inexpensive, and are available at most department stores.

2. Are Your Security Lights Active?
Having motion-sensing security lights can be a great way to deter burglars from entering your home. Be sure to install your security lights around all entry points into your home.

3. Is Your Security System Armed?
Before you leave on vacation, don’t forget to arm your security system! Some home security companies will offer a feature that allows you to view 24/7 surveillance of your home, either by phone or over the computer. With this tool, you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation.

4. Did You Disconnect Your Telephone?
A constantly ringing telephone inside your home can be a signal to burglars that your home is unoccupied. It’s highly recommended that you turn off the ringer for your phones while you are on vacation, or disconnect the phones entirely. Don’t forget – Never leave a voicemail message indicating that you are away on vacation!

5. Did You Hide Your Spare Keys?
If you choose to hide your spare key while on vacation, try to avoid hiding it in an area where burglars will know to look. It’s not recommended for you to hide your spare key under your doormat, in your mailbox, over your door frame, or in nearby flowerpots. Instead, try leaving your spare key with a trusted neighbor, friend or family member.

6. Did You Lock All Doors and Windows?
While this may seem like common sense, it’s always good to double-check if your doors and windows are locked before leaving your home. Right before you leave, do a last-minute check of all of your doors and windows, testing them to ensure that they are securely closed.

7. Is Your Garage Secure?
A substantial number of home burglaries are performed from a garage entry point. This is because many people fail to realize how vulnerable their garage is to burglars. If you don’t have a sturdy garage door, be sure to install bright security lights around all areas of your garage. In addition to this, it’s important not to neglect monitoring of your garage when installing a home security system.

8. Did You Suspend Newspaper Deliveries?
A pile of delivered newspapers outside your home can be a telltale sign to burglars that you are not at home. Most newspaper companies will be able to suspend deliveries upon request, as long as you give them advance notice.

9. Did You Hide Your Valuables?
While on vacation, having your valuables securely hidden can help you to rest assured that they are safe from burglars. It’s best if you have a hidden wall safe, where you can store all of your valuable items and documents securely. However, if you do not have a wall safe, you can always hide your valuables in shoeboxes on top of closets, in cabinets, behind canned food, and in other places that a burglar may not think to look. If you have any firearms in your home, be sure that they are in a secure location.

10. Are Your Curtains and Blinds Closed?
If you keep your curtains and blinds closed, there is a higher likelihood that a burglar will not be able to easily tell that you are not at home. In addition to this, it prevents a prospective crook from being able to survey your home for any objects of value.

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