Since Vallejo is in California, and California was No. 1
in the country for State Farm theft claims in 2015, that company offers some
anti-theft tips for summer vacationers.
“While December and January are top months for home theft
due to the delivery of Christmas and holiday packages, July is also a top month
for home theft because so many people are away from home on vacation, leaving
their home unmonitored,” company officials said.
The average claim reaches nearly $3,000, they said.
There are measures you can take to protect yourself
against a home burglary, State Farm officials said.
Outside your home:
• Install bright lights above your porches, yards, and
entrances to your home and garage. For apartment dwellers, the outside of your
building and the parking lot should be brightly lit. The more light, the fewer
hiding places.
• Consider timers or photocell controls to ensure your
outdoor lighting is on from dusk to dawn. Or consider motion-activated
lighting. You can even combine dusk-to-dawn and motion-activated lighting with
Hi/Lo sensors. These keep lights on at 20 percent of their brightness from dusk
to dawn, and switch to full brilliance when motion is detected.
• Trim trees and shrubs around windows and doors. The
less cover you give to burglars the better.
• If you’re away for a lengthy trip, have your lawn mowed
or raked and have your driveway, porch, and walks cleared of leaves.
• Don’t let daily deliveries pile up while you’re away.
Cancel newspaper delivery and ask your local post office to hold your mail for
you. (You can go to the U.S. Postal Service website to stop your mail
delivery.)
• Never leave notes that can tip off burglars to your
plans.
• When you’re home, park your cars in the garage and
close the garage door. This will make it less obvious that your home is
unoccupied when you are away.
• Don’t leave tools or ladders in your yard. Burglars may
use them to gain access into your home.
Inside your home:
• Install deadbolt locks on all exterior doors and doors
from an attached garage. Look for a deadbolt lock that has been given a Grade 1
rating from the American National Standard Institute which tests and grades
locks for security and durability.
• Pin-type locks or key locks work best to secure sliding
patio doors. For extra security, cut a 2x4 to size and leave it in the door
channel. You can also drive two or three screws in the overhead track to reduce
the chance of burglars lifting the door out of the track. If you choose a keyed
lock, be sure to keep the key somewhere easy to find for family members in case
of a fire.
• To make locks more secure, install a heavy-duty strike
plate using three-inch screws that penetrate the wall stud. Make sure the door
strike is held in place by four or more screws. Strengthen the door frame by
installing a door jamb reinforcement product.
• Consider buying two fire-resistant safes — one for
valuables and one for important documents and data — and bolt them to the floor
to protect them from theft.
• Think about installing an alarm system, preferably a
monitored system that includes an audible alarm and strobe light to frighten
away burglars.
• Set up contact sensors for points of entry, motion
detectors, or security cameras that can sync to a home monitoring system and be
programed to notify the owner via text, email, or phone call when someone
enters the residence.
• Have automatic timers installed to turn lights on and
off in different rooms at different times.
• Keep a detailed inventory of your valuables, including
the date of purchase, price paid, and serial numbers.
• Lower the volume of your telephone so it can’t be heard
outside.
• Change locks when you move into a new residence.
Original Article Here: Home
burglaries skyrocket in summer — here are some prevention tips
Related Article Here: Helpful Tips on How to
Protect Your Home from Burglary
Home burglary rate keeps on increasing as the day passes.
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locks. Need help? Locksmith & Key Oak Park
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