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Top 10 Ways
To Prevent Home Break-Ins

Home break-ins are up in this down economy. According to figures recently released by the FBI, the number of burglaries and larceny-thefts rose sharply last year. The 2008 edition of the FBI’s annual publication Crime in the United States, reports that victims of property crime lost an estimated $17.2 billion last year. Sadly, this year has the potential to be even worse. With Lawrence Mishel, President of the Economic Policy Institute, predicting that the national unemployment/underemployment rate will rise to 33% in 2010, the odds that you may be the victim of a break-in are increasing, too.

Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to prevent your home from becoming another crime statistic. Police departments around the country recommend ten easy-to-follow tips to protect your family and valuables:

1. Install a solid-core or metal door at every entrance point. This is a critical first step since the majority of break-ins are through front or back doors.
2. Purchase a quality, ANSI-rated knob-in-lock set with deadbolt mechanism. Top brands to consider include Medeco, Mul-T-Lock, and Schlage Primus.
3. Use a heavy-duty deadbolt with a one-inch throw bolt and upgrade to a heavy-duty strike plate with 3-inch screws into the frame. This helps prevent the most common method of forced entry: simply kicking in the door.
4. Change or rekey the door locks whenever you move into a new house or apartment.
5. Secure sliding glass doors by installing metal track blockers / locks. The latches on sliding glass doors are notoriously vulnerable to break-ins.
6. Leave a light on. It's important to make your home appear occupied by using timers on lights, radios and televisions.
7. Protect windows with secondary locking devices because latches are easy to force.
8. Add timers or motion detectors to exterior lighting. This is especially critical at the rear of the house.
9. Get an alarm. Studies show most burglars will bypass any home they believe has a alarm system.
10. Be a good neighbor. Joining a neighborhood watch is one of the most effective ways to protect your home.

Remember, burglars are opportunistic criminals looking for unoccupied homes with easy access and escape routes. They will usually bypass a house if it requires too much effort or more skills or tools than they possess. Not all break-ins will be stopped; however, the few simple steps outlined above can significantly increase your level of security. While most of these recommendations can be implemented by a reasonably handy person, it's wise to call in professional locksmiths if you have any doubts.