Have you considered safety as one of your new year’s resolutions?
Home burglary happens every 15 seconds in the United States. That sounds scary, but the good news is that we can do something about it. Here are our top 5 tips for keeping your home safer this new year:
- Replace your Batteries: Smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, home alarms, etc… be sure to check and/or replace the battery every six months! The CDC suggests you change the batteries every spring and fall during Daylight Savings as a trick for remembering, and replace the CO detector every five years.
- Dispose of your Christmas Tree Properly: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wooden stove. The sap from the tree can stick to the inside of your chimney and cause a chimney fire. Instead, if your location allows, you can repurpose the tree to use as firewood or kindling for an outdoor fire. Some districts also do pick up trees curbside, or there are multiple ways you can recycle. Check out Pick Your Own Christmas Tree and find how you recycle or dispose your tree safely.
- Watch Social Media Use – Avoid posting on a public social media platform the exact dates you will be away, especially if you have your demographics in your profile. You never know who could be snooping around and doing some planning. Keep it general or keep it private.
- Keep Spare Keys in a Lock Box – Keep a spare key under your doormat? Maybe in the planter pot next to the doorbell? Under a rock? It’s not safe to leave your home and all of your belongings up to chance. Hiding places around a front door are so easily found, it’s really not worth the risk when lock boxes exist. Place your spare key(s) in a lockbox which can be hidden or in the open. You can choose one that uses a number code to open (we recommend this one most) or one that opens with a key. Even having a neighbor hold onto a spare key is a much safer option than leaving a key out in the open.
- Lock Doors and Windows – If a burglar is specifically targeting your house, you can believe they’ve stalked out your house before. They are aware of the entryways and exits, which include windows, side and, back doors. Keep everything closed and locked when you are leaving the house, even if just for a grocery run. They may notice which entry points have been left opened and clock that as an option for breaking in. You may even consider deadbolting a few doors. Keeping everything locked is an easy way to guarantee no break ins.
