Insurance Information Institute

HOME SECURITY BASICS

Nine out of ten household burglaries are preventable.





THINK ABOUT IT 



Knowing about a burglar's three worst enemies -- light, time and

noise -- can help you protect your home from crime.  A burglar

won't find your home an "easy mark" if he's forced to work in the

light, if he has to take a lot of time breaking in, and if he can't

work quietly.



"CASE" YOUR PLACE



Take the time to "case" your house or apartment, just as a burglar

would.  Here are a few questions to get you started.



Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more burglar

resistant?



Trim trees and shrubs near your doors and windows, and think

carefully before installing a high, wooden fence around your back

yard.  High fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but

privacy is a burglar's asset.  Consider trading a little extra

privacy for a bit of added security.  Force any would-be burglar to

confront a real enemy -- light.  Exterior lights, mounted out of

easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting.



How can you slow burglars down?



Time is a burglar's enemy, too.  A burglar delayed for four or five

minutes is apt to give up and try for another, less difficult

location.  Simple security devices -- including such ordinary

equipment as nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks,

grates, bars and bolts -- can discourage intruders and keep them

from entering.



How about noise?



Try to make the general prospect of robbing your home a noisy job. 

Noise is that important third enemy of the burglar.  Many types of

alarm systems are available, with detectors to be mounted on doors

and windows.  Deciding just how much home protection you need --

and can afford -- is a personal judgment.  Ask your police

department or sheriff to have someone survey your home and advise

you about suitable protection.



Are any of your valuables - such as a painting, a silver collection

or an antique chair-easy to see from outside?



Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it serves to

make your homeless inviting to criminals!



Incidentally, should you ever need to report a burglary or file an

insurance claim, a household inventory - a listing of your

furniture and major personal belongings - could be a valuable

document.



Consider Some Specifics



Reducing the risk of break-ins is simply a matter of making your

home less inviting to burglars than other homes in the

neighborhood.  It's up to you.



Doors



Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood, and at least 1 3/4

inches thick.  Frames must be made of equally strong material, and

each door must fit its frame securely.  Remember, if it is placed

in a weak door, even the most efficient lock will not keep out a

determined burglar.



A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for

identifying visitors than a door chain.



Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy

to open, but there are locks designed for them.  A broomstick in

the door channel can help, but don't depend on it for security.



Locks



Deadbolt locks are best.  They usually are locked with a key from

the outside and a thumb turn on the inside.  The cylinder (where

the key is inserted) should be pick-resistant.  Ask your hardware

dealer for a reputable brand, or buy your locks from a locksmith.



Windows



Key locks are available for all types of windows.  Double-hung

windows can be secured simply by "pinning" the upper and lower

frames together with a nail, which can be removed from the inside.



For windows at street level, consider iron grates or grilles.  



For windows opening onto a fire escape, metal accordion gates can

be installed on the inside.



Make the Extra Effort



Here are some "home security habits" to develop and practice:



  Establish a routine to follow in making certain that doors and

windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on.



  Avoid giving information to unidentified telephone callers, or

announcing your personal plans in want ads or public notices (such

as giving your address when advertising items for sale).  Notify

police if you see suspicious strangers in your area. 



  Handle your keys carefully.  Don't carry house keys on a key

ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in

a commercial parking lot.  Don't hide your keys in "secret" places

outside your home - burglars usually know where to look.



  Remember special vacation tips.  This is a clear giveaway that

the owners are not home.  When going on vacation, leave blinds open

in their usual position.  Have mail and packages picked up,

forwarded or held by the post office.  Lower the sound of your

telephone bell so it can't be heard outside.  Arrange to have your

lawn mowed or your walk shoveled.  Stop newspaper deliveries.  Ask

a friend to pick up "throwaway" newspapers and circulars.  Use

automatic timers to turn lights on and off in your living room and

bedrooms at appropriate times.  Consider connecting a radio to a

timer.  Tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be

away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what's

happening in your area - working closely with them is a good way to

prevent crime.



...And Remember This



Confronting a thief in your home is frightening.

Follow this advice:



  Run away if you can and call police.



  Lock yourself in a room if you can't escape.



  Cooperate and stay as calm as possible should you find yourself

face-to-face with a burglar.



Report any losses to your insurance representative promptly and

accurately.  (Don't forget to check your household inventory.)