HOME SECURITY—VACATION

by Frank Fourchalk

Whether you are a snowbird and heading for your warm weather retreat for the winter months or going for a vacation for a week or two, it is always a good idea to take a few minutes and review your home security. To decrease your risk of a break-in I have compiled the following home security checklist.

  1. Lock all windows and doors including any outside shed or garage.
  2. Door hardware should be durable and securely installed. Deadbolts should be a minimum of one inch into the doorframe.
  3. Doors with windows in them or near them should have double cylinder deadbolts (keyed on both sides) or security film applied to the glass to prevent breakage.
  4. Sliding patio doors should be secured with an auxiliary patio door lock as well as screws in the top track to prevent lifting the door out of the frame.
  5. Sliding windows should be secured with wood doweling in the track to prevent pryiny and with screws in the top track to prevent lifting windows out.
  6. Pull out the plug on your automatic garage door opener to prevent anyone tampering with the operating frequency and code.
  7. A well-lit home exterior discourages would-be burglars. Consider an outdoor passive infrared detector that turns on outside lights to welcome you. It discourages intruders.
  8. Inside light timers, or what I like to call appliance timers can be activated to turn lights on and off. These timers can be used to activate fans to circulate the air and move the drapes. Your TV and radio can be switched on providing your home with a lived-in appearance (and sound).
  9. Trim any trees or shrubs obstructing windows and doors.
  10. Arrange to have your newspapers and flyers picked up by someone.
  11. Lock all ladders, tools and other objects that could assist in a burglary.
  12. Use window coverings on any windows easily visible from the street.
  13. Use a general message on your answering machine. Do not leave a message that lets intruders know you are not home.
  14. Contact your local police department for details on Block Watch (neighbours helping neighbours).
  15. Consider a house sitter or someone who regularly comes into your house while you are on vacation.
  16. As a final check, reassess your insurance policy to make sure it is up to date and still offering the coverage you require.