Common sense helps take bite out of crime and keep home safe
Last week during a conversation with a friend, she said she has been receiving calls from someone wanting to know if she is going to be home. She said the conversation went like this; “Hi grandma, are going to be home today?” Not thinking, she responded, “Yes” and the person suddenly hung up. After thinking about it for a few minutes she realized her grandchildren do not call her “grandma.”
This type of informative call gives burglars direct information about the status of your home. It tells the burglar if it is safe to approach. If you’re not home it is one less major problem they will have to deal with after entering your home.
Because of the above, I thought it a great topic to discuss in this week’s article.
Your home is truly your castle. It is a place where you should feel secure and comfortable. Unfortunately, in today’s world of escalating violence, the home is a place where bad guys look too for quick cash. Please, when answering the phone do not give out information about your home unless you are absolutely sure you know the person you are talking to.
Home security is very important; below are a few tips that you should consider when examining your home’s security needs:
Phone answering systems:
On your phone answering system, never record with both your first and last name. This gives the burglar enough information to find your address in the phone book. In my view your physical address should never be listed in the phone book; if you have to list an address, use a post office box number.
Alarm systems:
• Homes without alarms system suffer a significantly higher break-in rate. Unfortunately because of the high frequency of sirens, people tend to ignore them. If you have an alarm system make sure it is connected to a central station so when it does go off someone will respond to the call.
• In my view dogs provide a wonderful alarm system. I have three dogs, one barker and two bitters. All you have to do is feed them well, give them lots of attention and they will respond with excellent protection and immediate intruder alarm notification.
Locking systems:
Home locks act as the secondary security system. All windows, doors and crawlspace entryways should be secured by good locks. Even though your doors and windows have locks on them, if your crawlspace is open, all someone has to do is enter the crawlspace and lift up the entry point (Usually in a closet) and enter your home.
If you’ve just moved into a new home, always have the home’s locks re-keyed. You have no idea what the previous tenants or owners moral or ethical attitudes were. If you don’t re-key, you could come home to a very unpleasant surprise.
Security bars:
As most of you know I’m retired military and because of that fact I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to a lot of different countries. In Asia, Latin America and Europe it’s not unusual to see bars on windows. In America we don’t usually see them unless it is a crime stricken area. Something to consider – in the areas of your home that is not exposed to general public view, window and doorway entry bars should be installed. Those concealed areas allow the burglar plenty of time to break into your home.
Valuable identification:
• In my business for each job we take between 25 and 100 pictures of that job and the work we’ve done on that property. We do this because each picture is worth a thousand words and pictures generally don’t lie. I highly recommend you take a picture of all of your high valued items, take pictures of the interior of your home and take a picture of each weapon that you have. On each picture of your weapon, mark down the serial number of that weapon. That way; God forbid, if your home has been invaded and items are missing, you have documentation to provide to the police and insurance company.
• In the old days, the police would tell you to have your Social Security number engraves on your expensive items. Don’t do that. Instead have your driver’s license number engraved on them. If they get your Social Security number, it will open you up to a whole new world of problem; i.e. identity theft
In closing; folks be careful, our world is rapidly changing and not for the good.
If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to nwees@hughes.net or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do? For more information about Ed, go online to www.nwees.com.
Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified indoor environmental professional, forensic, fire, flood, mold Inspection and remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is the president of Northwest Environmental Services, Inc.