1.) Mail & Newspapers:

When traveling for the holidays, or anytime, be sure that you put a hold on your mail and newspaper.  A sure sign of someone’s absence is a driveway full of newspapers, and an overflowing mailbox!

Not only does the thief use that to know that your house is a vacant target, he may also help himself to your mail, which is full of your personal and confidential information!  Stop that mail and paper until you get back in town, it’s easy!

2.) Alarm or Security Systems:

Have a security system professionally designed & installed for your home.  Don’t settle for a quick “Cookie Cutter” offer that does not take into account your home’s unique architecture and floor plan. Alarms, complete with yard sign & window stickers, are an excellent deterrent to stop a break-in before they even set foot on your property.

If any of your other security measures are circumvented, the alarm provides that critical final layer of protection and coverage.

3.)  Water Leak, Gas Leak, Smoke Alarms & More:

Okay, So this isn’t so much a security tip as a “protection” tip.  Have a water leak, gas leak, and smoke detector installed as part of your alarm system.  Did you know that broken washing machine hoses and clogged utility room drains are among the leading causes for household flooding?  By connecting a water leak detector to your alarm, you can be notified of a small problem, before it becomes a very bad problem.  If nobody is home to see the flood, you can get a lot of damage before it is noticed.

The same goes for smoke and gas detection.  We have gas detectors that will detect natural gas, carbon monoxide, propane, and more.  Smoke detectors, of course, detect smoke and can help get the fire department to your home before the damage becomes too late.

4.) Security For Children:

• Teach your children to never answer the door to strangers.
• Children should know local emergency phone numbers or how to dial 911.
• Children, even young ones, should know their name, address, and phone number.
• Caution teenagers about “blind dates” or meeting someone they do not know or someone they met on the internet.
• Let children know they should not give out personal information, such as home address, absence of adults, etc. over the phone or on the internet.
• Teach children that it is okay to say no to strangers or even people they know if they are uncomfortable with the situation.
• Teach children how to get out of the house and where to go in case of emergency.