Following up on the home safety articles let us look at household security. Be it a room, apartment or suburban home good sense and focus are the way to keep safe.
Warmer summer weather tempts us to open windows and doors and let the fresh air in. It isn’t wise to leave them open when you are in view of them but it is inconvenient to keep closing and opening them as you move around your domicile. So for safety prune away vegetation that conceals windows from the street and neighbors. Should someone try to break in don’t give them a place to hide. Remove or lock up ladders and furnishings that can be used by burglars to gain access. It is important to have cellar windows that can open for ventilation but these are vulnerable and should have securely installed metal bars that do not allow slim people to slip between them. If your basement is a living area, make sure that there are two unobstructed exits and purchase security bars that can be opened from within if a window is your second exit.
Depending on how your windows operate windows on the main level can be provided with arrangements of pins or venting locks that allow them to open enough for air flow but prevent them from being lifted or slid open further to deter easy entry. These are available at hardware stores and can be installed by someone competent with a power drill. Remember that if you use air conditioners or window fans that stay in all season people can push these in to gain entry. It is important to have them securely screwed into place and the windows bolted or secured with a bracket inside so that they cannot be wiggled open enough to push the units through. If you feel vulnerable consider bars for windows on the main level too – these are especially useful for street level spaces and can be ordered in decorative wrought iron style where budget allows. Or basic off the shelf sliding security bars can be mounted between storm sash and inner windows to lessen the effect and can be painted to blend in. Again, ensure that there is a second egress from every floor of the home and that there is an emergency egress from each bedroom; use bars that can be released from inside when the window is the emergency exit.
Don’t make your house a target! It is foolish to leave window coverings open so people can see in especially if you have valuables visible that might tempt them such as computers, large screen TVs or anything else that they might want to grab and sell. Even more important don’t make yourself a target – don’t let people outside see that you might be home alone, distracted or off guard. Use window coverings on every window or door people can readily look in through. Basic shades are inexpensive and easy to install and second hand stores and yard sales often have nice window coverings cheaply. If you are a tenant in NJ the landlord generally is required to provide a basic window covering and the landlord must provide adequate locking hardware for exterior windows and doors.
A lock is only as good as the door it is on. If your door has glass or glass side lights next to it someone could break the glass and reach in to open the lock. Deadbolt locks with keys on the inside are available but if you choose one take care that an emergency key is kept close by but out of reach of the glass, so you can open the door swiftly for exit. I recommend using a layer of ¼” thick clear plastic (Lexan is one well known name) that is cut with at least an inch border all around and is screwed on every few inches inside the door or sidelight – this adds insulation and is very difficult to break. Put a neighborhood watch sticker on the inside of this so would be burglars see the sticker on the far side of the thick plastic and realize they will have to contend with that layer and hopefully go away. Doors where appearance is not a worry, such as cellar doors, will benefit from a metal security grate sold for the purpose and screwed on to cover the glass section of the door. If placed on the outside it should be installed with carriage bolts which are smooth and have no slots so they are very difficult to unscrew from the exterior. Prepaint to match the house. Remember to keep securely locked up and do not make departures from the premises obvious. To be continued.
