Burglar-proof your home

Break-ins are a common concern for homeowners and renters. By making the extra effort to improve the security of your home and belongings, you contribute to the safety of your community. Use these tips to deter thieves from potential break-ins:

• Don't leave spare keys hidden near your exterior door; give them to a trusted friend or neighbour. Keep track of who has keys to your home. Install good-quality, tamper-proof deadbolt locks. Exterior wood doors should be a minimum of four centimetres thick and made from solid or laminated wood. Reinforce your door if necessary and ensure all hinges are on the inside.
• Identify all points of entry into your house and make sure each of them is secure. Keep garage doors locked with a sturdy lock, preferably sliding bolts. Install security bars on vulnerable windows and replace the latch on double-hung windows (ones that slide up) with a keyed lock latch. Don't forget to keep the key close by in case of fire.
• Keep garden equipment and bicycles out of sight in secure storage.
• During the holiday season, be careful with recycling and disposing of gift boxes. This can be a tell-tale sign for thieves of what high-valued items they can steal from your home.
• Cut back trees and bushes, and keep your house well lit, especially around entrances and the driveway so people can see what's going on at your property.
• Place a sturdy piece of wood in the track of sliding glass doors and windows for extra security.
• A barking dog can help deter thieves. If you don't have a dog, consider displaying the appearance that a dog lives there with a "beware of dog" sign and/or a dog's water dish on the porch.
• Engrave your valuables so that you can identify them if they are stolen and recovered. Engravers are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores. Engrave items on the back or in a hidden spot with your B.C. driver's license number.
• Consider arranging for a monitored alarm service.
• If you are on vacation for an extended period of time ask the post office to hold your mail or have a friend pick it up every few days. Stop delivery of your newspaper until you return. Use light timers that turn lights on and off at usual times to give the appearance that there is someone at home. You can also put a timer on a radio.
• Work with neighbours to watch out for each other's property.

Resources

Insurance Bureau of Canada: Stop Break-ins
BC Crime Prevention Association: Community Partners in Crime Prevention
Block Watch Society of BC: Crime Prevention Tips