Keeping your home safe

Most crimes are those of opportunity, criminals love easy targets and with a few simple precautions you can make your home less attractive to burglars. An once of prevention goes a long way to making your home be the one that is passed over by potential thieves.

Some steps that we suggest you take

Criminals look for dark homes for two reasons, it makes it less likely for them to be spotted, and indicates that no one is home. Properly illuminating your home, especially the entrances is a great deterrent to criminals.
Keeping the shrubbery neatly trimmed will discourage potential burglars from hiding near entrances.
Make sure to lock up, always! Even if you are home keep all your doors and windows locked and the garage door locked and closed. Criminals will often look for unlocked doors.
Installing a peephole on your front door allows you to see who is at the door with out actually having to open it.
Auxiliary locks should be placed on windows and sliding glass doors. These are available at home improvement stores and will prevent your sliding doors and windows from being lifted during a burglary attempt.
Deadbolt locks are recommended for all exterior doors. A minimum of one inch throw is suggested and a double cylinder provides greater security. Hiding keys or tools outside can provide burglars with everything they need to break into your home.

Cooler Security Advisors is available to provide home inspections. We can help to assess your security situation and correct vulnerabilities and make your home more secure.

Extra precautions that should be taken when leaving your home for extended periods

Let only trusted friends and neighbors know that you will be away, ask them to check up on your home. Limit this information only to close friends!
Attach timers to lights and television sets to turn them on at different times to make your home appear occupied.
Arrange to have your mail and newspaper stopped or picked up by a friend. A stack of newspapers on your drive is a red light for criminals indicating you are away.
Disconnect the power from garage door openers, sophisticated criminals can hack into them.
Leave some of the drapes and blinds open in your house to give the appearance that someone is home. This also makes your lights on a timer more visible.

Cooler Security Advisors and some local police departments offer services to drive-by unoccupied residences and perform perimeter checks to watch for signs of break-in or other suspicious activity.