Massachusetts Crime Watch has developed a useful home security list that helps to enhance home security. If you are looking for simple tips to make your home safer than before, have a look at the following list. Remember that you do not need to implement all the recommendations. Have a look at the list at first and then decide which recommendation fits your needs.
Disclaimer: I have put together the original checklist in simple words so as you can easily understand what you need to do if you want to implement a particular solution.
Security of the Entrances of your home
- Pay attention to the materials used to construction your doors. Are they made of woods or metal?
- Is it easy to pull off the door hinges from outside?
- Are there any opening or small window within the 40 inches of the door lock?
- Do you have any auxiliary locks on the entrance door?
- Make sure both the strikes and strike plates are fastened securely.
- Do your doors have a wide-angle viewer or any voice communication device?
- Is it possible to reach the lock mechanism of your door through mail delivery slot or pet entrance?
- Do you have a storm or screen door. If so, then make sure it is an adequate locking system.
- Is there enough lighting for all exterior entrances to your house?
- Is your entrance door visible from the street? Make sure a porch or the landscaping of your house conceal the view of your entrance door from the street.
- If you have a sliding door, you need to ensure that it is securely fitted so that no one can lift out of its track.
- Use a charley bar or key operated auxiliary lock in your sliding door.
- Is your sliding door mounted on the inside of the stationary panel?
Entrances from Garage and Basement
- Are there any entrances from garage and basement to your living quarters? If so, check out the construction material of those doors.
- Check if there are any auxiliary locks.
- How the auxiliary locks of the doors from basement to living quarters operate. Do they operate from the living quarters’ side or they also operate from the outside.
Ground Floor Windows
- Make sure all of your ground floor windows have key-operated lock or have a way of pinning that can work as an additional security measure.
- If you have screen or storm window, make sure they lock from inside of your room.
- If you have a window that opens to a hazardous areas or offer the risk of burglary, try to mitigate that risk either by closing down that window or by removing the window in another area.
Upper Floor and Windows
- If you have upper floor, check out if the windows open onto roofs of adjoining house or garage roofs or porch. If so, then make sure they can be locked adequately just like the ways your ground floor windows are locked.
- If you have trees or shrubbery make sure they are kept trimmed so as no one can use it to reach your upper floor.
- Do you keep ladders outside of your house that is accessible? If so, keep them in a safe place so that only you can access it when you need it.
Basement Doors and Windows
- Do you a door from the outside of your house to your basement. If so, then secure them adequately.
- Put enough lighting in your basement entrance door.
- Make sure your basement door is concealed from the street.
- Secure all basement windows.
Garage Doors and Windows
- Make sure that your automobile entrance door is equipped with a proper locking and device, and check out what type of locking device you are using.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked when you do not need it.
- If you garage has windows, secure them.
- Make your outside utility entrance as secure and strong as your ground floor entrance.
- All garage doors need to be lighted properly.
