How can I prevent a home burglary?

1. Make your home hard to get into. Install a deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt that requires a key to open it, plus a doorknob that needs a key. That’s two layers of protecting right there. A tip: If your door has a window, get a deadbolt that requires a key to open from both the inside and the outside.
2. Your garage door probably is your home’s least-secure entry point. If a burglar can get into the garage, he can do almost anything else without any worry that the neighbors will see him.
3. Even if you park your car inside the garage, don’t leave it unlocked, and never leave they keys in it.
4. Solid-core and metal doors are harder to kick open than hollow doors, so consider them for all entry points. Invest in a four-screw, high-security strike plate as part of your door’s hardware. Use three-inch-long wood screws to secure strike plates and door hinges.
5. Secure sliding-glass doors with a locking jamb pin to prevent the door from being lifted out of the track and removed. Place a large decal on the glass that warns burglars of your home security system.
6. Lock your windows. If a window slides horizontally, install a locking pin to prevent the sliding portion from being lifted up and out of the frame.
7. Clean up your yard. Hide away ladders and tools that a burglar can use to get into your home.
8. Get to know your neighbors, especially the ones who live next door and across the street. Tell them when you’ll be away. Entrust one of them with a key to your home so you don’t have to hide one under a doormat or give one to a pet-sitter or housekeeper.
9. Turn on the lights. A home that looks occupied is a less-likely target than one that looks empty. Connect lights to timers so they will turn on and off at logical times. Install outdoor lights with motion detectors.
10. Make some noise. An alarm that goes off if a door opens or a window breaks can scare away a burglar because it draws attention to the house. Display a decal that tells the burglar you’ve got an alarm.

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