It’s a sad fact of life, but there are those out there who would want to rob you of your valued possessions and keep or sell them for themselves. Seniors are especially vulnerable in that they are less likely to be able to resist an intruder, and have accumulated more valuables over their lifetime than younger folks. However there are a number of precautions that you can take to minimize your risks.
Most intruders would prefer to enter your home while you are away from home. In fact, most home burglaries take place between 10:00 and 12:00 am and 1:00 and 3:00 pm. It just makes sense then to make your home appear as if it were occupied, be it day or night..
- If on vacation, make sure you stop all mail and newspaper deliveries.
- Keep lights on at night. Several inexpensive electronic devices are available that will automatically turn your lights on and off at pre-determined times. They will also turn on your TV or radio.
- Keep a car visible in the driveway if possible.
- If you will be away for an extended period of time, keep trash in your trashcan. Burglars will check to see if your trash has been collected and the trash not refilled.
- Notify your neighbors, let them know that you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on your home.
- Have someone mow your lawn or remove snow if you will be gone for a while.
- Buy a dog. A barking dog is probably the second best deterrent to home intrusion.
- Invest in a monitored security system. Police agree that this is the very best deterrent to home invasion and robbery. With features such as police, fire department and medical emergency notification, you will be protecting your life, loved ones and possessions in the very best way possible.
Al Thode is the Area Manager for Cass Security, authorized ADT dealer. For more information about ADT security systems or a free security analysis of your home or business, call Al at 217-637-0813