Via California - Fall 2019 - 41

6
Make it hard to case your house.
Keep shrubs and trees cut back so
that the entire front of your house
can be seen from the street. In
particular, be careful that none
of your plants block possible
points of entry; all windows and
doors should be clearly visible.
You should be able to see through
any front fencing; solid privacy
fences provide excellent cover
for burglars.

LEFT: ALEXEYS / ISTOCK; RIGHT: DAVID PAPAZIAN / SHUTTERSTOCK

7. Don't advertise long absences.
If you'll be gone for a while, ask a
trusted neighbor to pick up deliveries daily, roll out the trash bins,
and periodically move your car.
Don't ask a friend who lives far
away; he or she might come by
once the day after you leave and
again the day before you come
back: "It's just human nature,"
says Wyatt. Mark Demler of AAA
Smart Home suggests checking
with your security company
before you leave to be sure it has
up-to-date contact information.
And don't post vacation photos to
social media until you get back.

Pay attention to windows. Like doors,
windows should have sturdy frames and
strong locks. The original locks on older
windows may not be supersecure, so
consider supplementing them with add-on
hardware. If you're really worried about
intrusions, you can install windows with
laminated, tempered, or reinforced glass;
retrofit yours with security window film; or
install grates. Be sure that the latter have
quick-release mechanisms, in case of fire.

9. Get an alarm-and use it.
Invest in an alarm system that's
monitored around the clock and
alerts the police in the event of an
intrusion. Like locks, alarms do no
good if you don't use them. Arm
the system even when you leave
for a short errand: Most burglaries
take less than 10 minutes. When
everyone is home for the evening,
use your system's night mode,
which turns off the interior motion
sensors but leaves perimeter sensors on. Added bonus: A homesecurity system may qualify you
for an insurance discount.

10. Outsmart false alarms. Some
homeowners refrain from using
their security systems for fear
of setting off false alarms. There
are easy fixes for the two most
common causes of such errors.
● Modern motion sensors are
designed to ignore pets. But if
yours are large (over 85 pounds),
keep them out of areas covered
by those detectors or have your
alarm company adjust the system.
● Periodically dust around motion
sensors to prevent alarms triggered by cobwebs, dust bunnies,
and spiders.
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Via California - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Via California - Fall 2019