1. Check your home, keeping in mind how you would break in. Why would you choose this home if you were a burglar.

2. When burglar-proofing your home, keep in mind fire safety. You should install smoke detectors and have fire extinguishers ready to use.

3. Trim shrubbery below window level. If shrubbery conceals a good lock, the lock becomes ineffective.

4. High fences can be good privacy, but can also provide good concealment for the burglar. Keep pad locks on gates.

5. House numbers should be placed on the front and back of the house. This aids in emergency response.

6. Lighting properly displayed can be a great deterrent to a would-be burglar. You want lighting to come down on what your are trying to light up, such as a light on a pole in an alley.

7. Main entry doors should be sturdy. Hinges should have a pin in them so they can’t be removed. Doors should be solid wood or metal. The door lock should be a deadbolt, with at least a one-inch thick throw bolt and should be equipped with a hefty cylinder guard. The strike plate should be held in place with 2 1/2 inch screws or longer. You may also consider a flange plate around the lock to protect doors from kick attack.

8. Garage doors should have a pin placed behind the wheel in the frame of the door, the garage door leading into the home should be secured with a deadbolt. If you use a double-key deadbolt, a key should be in the lock at all times when someone is in the home.

9. Windows should be secured with a second locking device. A removable pin in the frame offers good security. Remember fire safety.

10. Mark and take photographs of all property. The recommended way of marking property is to use an electrical engraver and to imprint your driver’s license number. An engraver may be checked out from the police department.

11. Spread your property throughout your home, making it harder for the burglar to locate items such as guns, jewelry, money and stereos. If if takes a burglar longer than 15 seconds, he or she probably will not get in.

1. Don’t Leave it Lying Around. If you have gas grill, a barbecue, propane tank, or any other form of explosive you shouldn’t leave it lying around. Be careful with lighters and matches, too. Although you may not have children, other people do, and children may not know it’s wrong to play with the things in other people’s backyards. It is very risky for your home security to have flammables lying around, and a very likely way to start a blaze.

2. Escape Plan. Think of making an escape plan and practice it. You may have thought it will be hard to break into until you forget your keys and only need 10 minutes. It seems really easy to get out of the house, but try and imagine that certain doors and windows are blocked, and deal with issues in escaping from upper story windows like storing ladders in upper-story rooms.

3. In Hot Water. It is nice to have blazing hot water available in winter at any times, except for the fact that hot water systems can be unpredictable. If you have incredibly hot water in your house, be sure to call a professional person to deal with the situation. Simply, you cannot know when a blast of hot water could potentially cause you harsh burns, especially when you are in the bathroom or kitchen where a slip and fall could lead to a grave head or body injury.

4. Be Careful when Cooking. Whenever you have a chance, cook on the back burners. Many people think they should be cautious when small children are around. Well, there is always a risk with children that they will snatch onto or hit into a hot pan handle and pull it down on top of oneself. Adults, on the other hand, should be careful with hot oil or hot water pans which may spit or spill onto unprotected skin. Therefore, it is recommended always to keep at the distance while you are in the kitchen.

5. Be Forewarned. It is always a good idea to provide a home alarm system, or fire alarm system in your house. You can avoid any possibility of catching a fire by surprise, but you have to charge the batteries and/or change them at least once a month. It is not unusual that many people, especially at night, are not even awakened by a fire, as the deadly smoke can be just as dangerous when breathed in. However, with an alarm system installed there is no need to worry at all. You can relax and sleep well at night.