Safety Tips

For the majority of people, a feeling of security is found in the home. However, many people fail to take even fundamental precautions to secure their homes against robbery. There are a number of precautions you can take that will reduce the opportunities a burglar is looking for.

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PREVENTION TIPS

• Conduct a security check of your home to determine possible entry points and any weakness them may have.
• Keep all entrances and garages well lit at night.
• Do not leave tell-tale signs that your are away.
• Install good locks and always use them.
• Install a wide-angle door view, which permits you to see callers before you open the door.
• Never open a door to strangers without credentials.
• Change your routing often. Burglars can operate on your routine.
• Do no keep large amounts of money in your home.
• Mark valuable items for identification. The Operation Identification program has been developed by police to assist people in marking their property.
• Keep valuable items in a safety deposit box at your bank. If this is not possible, keep them locked up in a reasonable hiding place in your home.
• Note: A few inexpensive but rich looking pieces kept in the jewelry box as decoy may deter unnecessary ransacking of your home in search of valuables.

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WHAT IF... A burglar assumes you are not home and enters without checking.

• Do not attack the burglar, who is likely to be as frightened as you are.
• Try to memorize a description of the person, particularly facial characteristics.
• When the burglar leaves, call the police immediately.

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FACTS

Statistics indicate that the thief will most likely be a male in the neighborhood, usually under 30. He may be well dressed, wearing a recognizable uniform or a suit jacket. It will more than likely be broad daylight. The typical burglar does not want to harm you, just get into your home, steal what is available and valuable and get out as quickly as possible, unobserved.

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