Awareness

Home Security: The Basics

Expert Chris McGoey offers simple, common-sense advice for home security against burglary and intrusion

By Chris E. McGoey, home security expert (crimedoctor.com)

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5. Be a Good Neighbor

A neighborhood watch system is easy to establish, simply by getting to know your neighbors on either side of your home, as well as directly across the street. By inviting neighbors into your home, communicating often and establishing trust, you engender whats called territoriality, which means that neighbors take ownership and responsibility for what occurs in their mini-neighborhood. This concept works in both single-family homes and on apartment properties.

In a neighborhood-watch community, neighbors keep watch on each others homes, especially when someone is away. They report suspicious activity; ensure the continuation of normal services like lawn care; pick up mail; and inspect the outside or inside of each others homes periodically to see that all is well.

Allowing a neighbor to have a key solves the problem of hiding a key outside the door. Experienced burglars know to look for hidden keys in planter boxes, under doormats and above the ledge. Requiring a service vendor to ask your neighbor for the house key will send a powerful message that someone is watching.

The greatest barrier to establishing this level of neighborhood participation is taking the first step. You can get help by calling your local crime prevention unit at the police department, which may employ a neighborhood watch coordinator.

" Get to know all your adjacent neighbors.
" Invite them into your home and establish trust.
" Agree to watch out for each other's home.
" Do small tasks for each other to improve territoriality.
" While on vacation, pick up newspapers, and flyers.
" Offer to occasionally park your car in their driveway.
" Return the favor and communicate often.

6. Light Timers

Interior lighting is necessary to show signs of occupancy and activity inside a residence at night. A darkened home night after night sends the message that you are away on vacation. Light timers are inexpensive and can be found everywhere. They should be used on a daily basis, not just when youre away. In this way, you set up a routine that your neighbors can observe and will allow them to become suspicious when your normally lighted home becomes dark.

Typically, you want to use light timers near the front and back windows with the curtains closed. The pattern of lights turning on and off should simulate actual occupancy. Its also comforting not to have to enter a dark residence when you return home. The same light timers can be used to turn on radios or televisions to further enhance the illusion of occupancy.