Theft Proof your Home
According to the FBI, a burglary occurs once every 11 seconds in the United States. Two out of three burglaries are residential, and 60 percent of them occur in broad daylight. Are you a prime target for a break-in? If your house has not been "burglar-proofed," you just might be. To a thief, breaking into your house is as easy as 1-2-3. Here's how the average burglary occurs:
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Burglars look for an easy access point into your home, like a window hidden behind tall bushes or trees. If the area is concealed or dark, their job is that much easier. |
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After gaining entry, the first stop is usually the master bedroom. Here the thief will waste no time turning your room upside down looking for cash, jewelry, cameras or other valuables. Next, the burglar will quickly run through the house to look for "gifts" -- that's burglar-speak for small appliances like TVs, laptop computers, VCRs or stereo systems. |
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Last stop is the garage. Here the burglar will proceed to load all your possessions into your car, which he'll then use for a quick get-away. |
Lights on
One of the best ways to prevent burglary is to create the illusion of activity in the house. Purchase at least two plug-in timers for lamps and set them to run on different cycles. For example, have one light on in the living room from dark to about 11pm; and another in the bedrooms from about 9pm until 1am. You can also get programmable timers for your televisions, audio systems and household appliances. Don't forget your outdoor lighting. Set timers to come on at dusk and go off at dawn. And to scare away intruders before they get too close, use motion detector spotlights. They protect the perimeter of your house at night by coming on when triggered by motion in front of the sensor beam.
Lock up
While this might seem obvious, many people forget to lock up the house completely. This means making sure the windows are latched shut, the doors bolted and all the curtains drawn. Remember, a thief is just as comfortable using your window for access as you are using the front door. If you have a sliding glass door, cut a two-by-four to fit the inside track and prevent the door from opening.
Stop the presses
Piles of newspapers and mail at the front door are a sure sign no one is home. Have these services stopped, or better yet, ask a neighbor to collect them. The fewer people that know you are gone, the better and having a trusted neighbor stop by is another set of eyes to assure that all is well.
Notify police
Call your local police department and ask if they keep a "vacant house list." In some towns, police will make a special effort to periodically check your house and look for suspicious activities. You'll need to tell them when you'll be away and give them important information like how many cars should be on your property, if anyone will be stopping by to water plants, etc.
Neighborhood Watch
One of the most effective and inexpensive ways to secure your home at the property line is to turn on the eyes and ears of your neighborhood. Community policing programs like Neighborhood Watch have shown great success in reducing property crime around the world. Burglars know when they're being watched. And they don't like it.
Avoid Now and you’ll PANIC later!!!
Are you prepared in the event of a major loss under your Homeowner's Insurance? The best preparation is to have a good insurance policy, but there are steps every Homeowner should take to make the claims process go smoothly.
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Make an inventory of everything you own. Ask your insurance agent if inventory booklets are available for just this purpose. Most agents or companies have booklets their clients will find helpful. Include in your records the serial numbers of items, when purchased, and if possible keep receipts of major items when purchased. If the item is one of a kind such as an antique, take pictures of those items. These records need to be kept in a fireproof save or deposit box at a financial institution. |
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If you have no inventory at this time, take pictures of each room in your home. Stand in the center of each room and take a picture of each corner of the room which will give you four pictures for each room. If you have a video camera, do a video of each room, closets, and drawers. Either of these actions will help in settling a major loss but a complete inventory is preferable. |
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If you have items scheduled on an individual basis such as jewelry, furs, art, computers, etc., make sure you have updated appraisals for these items. Jewelry appraisals should be redone at least every three years. Artwork may need to be evaluated every year. Talk to your jeweler or art dealer for their recommendations. |
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In the event of a fire or other loss, notify your insurance agent. Protect the property from further damage if this can be done safely. Separate the damaged from the undamaged property. Make a list of the damaged or destroyed property with estimates for replacing those items and give to your agent or insurance company within 60 days. |
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Make sure your present policy includes replacement cost for both your home and contents. |
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