When I worked for an installation company my boss was forever pushing us to sell home inspections. At the time he charged 29.99 and would go out and look around, print a report and collect money.
What you need to do is put yourself in the place of a criminal. Take an hour one afternoon to figure out a way to get into your house NOT break into your house. Walk around the whole house check all the doors and windows including the garage and basement doors. You would be surprised at the number of people who leave a door unlocked. Look at the basement windows you may not be willing to crawl through them but a criminal would. How about you shed or barn is it locked? A simple padlock will send a criminal next door or down the street (hopefully to another neighborhood) That is the point. Make them work and they will leave, if criminals wanted to work they would get a job, knowing it will be easier somewhere else makes their choice for them, why work when they can just walk in to somewhere down the street.
Why bother to lock my garage there is nothing there to steal. Well unless you have a big empty room and keep nothing but your car in the garage there is something to steal. Plus once a criminal knows of an unlocked door what keeps them from coming back when the car is there? Or waiting for you to return. Home invasion is rampant in the US so why give that extra edge to them? Even a handful of tools and some old appliances can be sold for cash for what ever the needs of the person who steals it.
TEN TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR HOUSE SAFE.
(in no particular order)
1. Screw your basement windows closed. ( you can break them if you need to get out for a fire)
2. Lock your doors. You paid for the locks you might as well use them.
3. Don't leave easily removable items in the yard. I would guess that crimes of opportunity must be a large percentage of overall theft. A bike or a small lawn mower left in the yard overnight night just disappear.
4. Use door guards on your sliding doors this is as easy as cutting a broomstick to fit.
5. Don't advertise what you buy. A giant cardboard box in the front of your house from that new flat screen is an invitation
6. Old but good, stop your mail and newspapers when you go on vacation
7. Lock your car doors. Cd's and ipods are easy to grab and walk away with.
8. Keep your wallet in your pocket and put some cash in your pocket. Same for a purse. Why show everyone how much or what is in your wallet or purse.
9. Don't leave notes on the door for deliveries letting them know that you are at work all day or next door having coffee.
10. Video tape or take pictures of everything you own ( it really does not take that long)you can give this to the police if something should happen.
If you make it easier for the police they can do a better job. Just like everything else in life if you take a little time to be prepared you can avoid theft for the most part.
Sometimes someone wants in so bad they will find a way. They may have an reason, they may not. That is where a video security system or alarm system can come in handy.
What you need to do is put yourself in the place of a criminal. Take an hour one afternoon to figure out a way to get into your house NOT break into your house. Walk around the whole house check all the doors and windows including the garage and basement doors. You would be surprised at the number of people who leave a door unlocked. Look at the basement windows you may not be willing to crawl through them but a criminal would. How about you shed or barn is it locked? A simple padlock will send a criminal next door or down the street (hopefully to another neighborhood) That is the point. Make them work and they will leave, if criminals wanted to work they would get a job, knowing it will be easier somewhere else makes their choice for them, why work when they can just walk in to somewhere down the street.
Why bother to lock my garage there is nothing there to steal. Well unless you have a big empty room and keep nothing but your car in the garage there is something to steal. Plus once a criminal knows of an unlocked door what keeps them from coming back when the car is there? Or waiting for you to return. Home invasion is rampant in the US so why give that extra edge to them? Even a handful of tools and some old appliances can be sold for cash for what ever the needs of the person who steals it.
TEN TIPS TO HELP KEEP YOUR HOUSE SAFE.
(in no particular order)
1. Screw your basement windows closed. ( you can break them if you need to get out for a fire)
2. Lock your doors. You paid for the locks you might as well use them.
3. Don't leave easily removable items in the yard. I would guess that crimes of opportunity must be a large percentage of overall theft. A bike or a small lawn mower left in the yard overnight night just disappear.
4. Use door guards on your sliding doors this is as easy as cutting a broomstick to fit.
5. Don't advertise what you buy. A giant cardboard box in the front of your house from that new flat screen is an invitation
6. Old but good, stop your mail and newspapers when you go on vacation
7. Lock your car doors. Cd's and ipods are easy to grab and walk away with.
8. Keep your wallet in your pocket and put some cash in your pocket. Same for a purse. Why show everyone how much or what is in your wallet or purse.
9. Don't leave notes on the door for deliveries letting them know that you are at work all day or next door having coffee.
10. Video tape or take pictures of everything you own ( it really does not take that long)you can give this to the police if something should happen.
If you make it easier for the police they can do a better job. Just like everything else in life if you take a little time to be prepared you can avoid theft for the most part.
Sometimes someone wants in so bad they will find a way. They may have an reason, they may not. That is where a video security system or alarm system can come in handy.
Complete security systems: http://spyville.com/comsecsys.html
