Protect yours and your clients' homes

Crime is a major concern of citizens and their law enforcement agencies; although in recent years the increase in crime in America appears to be leveling off.
Since 1990, according to the National Neighborhood Watch Program, national trends show burglaries down 32 percent. The organization believes that the credit goes to its focus on residential burglary prevention, plus individual citizen involvement in the crime prevention process.
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTIONThe AARP website offers these common sense tips in an article entitled How to keep burglars away from your home:
Lock it up - Prevent home theft by locking doors and windows when you leave, whether for a few minutes or a few days.
Extra Keys - Never leave a set of house keys in a hiding place; the burglar's business is to know those places. Instead, leave a set with a trusted neighbor or friend.
Shed some light - Thieves prefer to operate in darkness, so keep entryways, pathways, stairwells, porches and yards well lit.
AARP and Homeowner.net offer these effective tips from law enforcement officials:
Use solid core or metal clad entrance doors with solid door frames firmly attached to your home.
Entrance doors should have wide-angle peepholes so you can see visitors without opening the door.
Keep valuable papers, records and jewelry not frequently worn in your safe deposit box.
Give parking lot attendants and mechanics your ignition key only, not your house key. Don't carry an identification tag on your key ring either.
If you plan to be away for an extended time, give your home the "lived-in look." Ask a neighbor to collect newspapers and mail, to turn your outside lights on and off, and even cut the grass.
Plant thorny shrubs under windows that could provide easy access into a home.
Always keep your garage door closed and locked. Never leave three inches open for the family cat. The opening allows the burglar to accumulate even more "loot" from the house without neighbors noticing anything out of the ordinary.
HAVE A HOME INVENTORYState Farm (statefarm.com) offers free resources to complete a home inventory and suggests that you mark your belongings:
Use an engraving pen, usually available at a police station, so that they are traceable if stolen.
Ask the police what numbers to use when marking your belongings.
Never mark them with your social security number.
BE A GOOD NEIGHBORState Farm (statefarm.com) also suggests that you:
Organize a get together so neighbors can get to know one another.
Have a police officer educate your neighborhood about specific safety concerns.
Notify your apartment management of burned out light bulbs, broken locks on mailboxes and doors and other safety concerns.
Call the police immediately if you see suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
By protecting your home and possessions, you should have little to fear from burglars. You'll also have extra peace of mind whether you're home or away on vacation.

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