When you go on vacation put at least two lights, in different parts of the house, and a radio on timers. Regardless of whether you are on vacation, or just gone for the evening, from the outside your house should look as if someone is home.

Entry doors should be solid core wood (at least 1 3/4" thick) or metal wrapped. Your door should fit it's frame tightly, with no more than 1/8" clearance between the door and the frame. If the gap is too big, replace the door or bolt a sturdy metal strip to the door edge. You will boost your protection, and save energy too.

Most hollow core doors can be easily broken through. If the door is flimsy or weak, or doesn't fit securely into the frame, it offers little protection, no matter what locks you use. Doors with decorative glass panels or windows are easy marks. It takes only seconds to break the glass and unlock the door. If you do not want to replace such doors, install a break-resistant plastic panel, such as Lexan®, or decorative grille over the glass. Attach the grill with special non-removable screws.

For the best protection, install a wrought iron security door over your front door. Wrought iron doors not only provide an extra level of visible security against a break-in, they also allow you to open your front door to strangers, or leave the front door open for ventilation. When you go on vacation put at least two lights, in different parts of the house, and a radio on timers. Regardless of whether you are on vacation, or just gone for the evening, from the outside your house should look as if someone is home.

Your garage door should be securely locked at all times, even when you are home. Keeping it locked is just as important as keeping your home locked, especially if the garage is attached to the home. Once inside the garage a burglar can work uninterrupted at getting into the house. Statistics show that approximately 40% of our non-forced entry residential crime is through open garage doors. If you install a "doggie door" be sure it is not a way in for burglars as well as the dog. Do not be complacent by the fact that you have a small dog. Burglars come in all sizes!