Tips For Better Home Security

Basic Home Security

The following is provided for informational services only.  Our goal is to help protect people and simply remind them of things they should do to safeguard themselves and their homes from THUGS.

Below are some basic tips to remember about keeping your home secure.  Of course these lists are not all-inclusive, but if you practice these you then your home will be much safer than the usual home.  (Several of the tips below were provided by Savannah Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department)

Doors and Windows:

• Security starts with properly locked doors and windows, since these are the most common entry points.  Simple Door alarms and Window alarms can be very beneficial to combating crime.  CLICK HERE
• Install dead bolts.
• Use a door brace of some sort for sliding glass doors. CLICK HERE
• All locks should be changed when you move into a previously occupied house no matter who you've purchased the home from.
• Be very careful about hiding keys outside.  You must be “super” creative on hiding keys.  We have some creative ideas for hiding keys – CLICK HERE.  But, for example when using the rock key hider you shouldn’t just set it in a flower bed or beside a door.  Use common sense, bury part of the rock under the ground, where only a small part is exposed outside the soil.  “You Must Outsmart The THUG”

Reminders: While away from Home

• Leave on a radio or TV. Many radios and TV's have timers you can set to come on at specific times.
• Consider putting lights, including photo sensitive flood lights, on a timer if you regularly return home after dark.
• If you will be away for a few days:  1) Arrange for someone to cut the grass; 2) Ask your neighbor to park in your driveway; 3) Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your house and pick up your mail and newspapers.
• You can always install monitoring camera systems, which we carry.  But, sometimes even a very inexpensive motion activated imitation camera can deter a criminal away from your home.  These are so simple to put up.  We have several to choose from  CLICK HERE

Protect Your Household Property

• Don't encourage a burglar by displaying valuable items where they can be seen from a window. Purses and wallets left in plain sight are prime targets.
• Engrave all your property with unique identifiers.
• Make a list of all your valuables, including serial numbers.  Store those serial numbers with other valuable items.  We have very inexpensive diversion “hidden” safes that are great for those things of value.  CLICK HERE

More Home Security Is Better Home Security

• Noise is the burglar's biggest enemy. Even when the above tips are used an intruder sensing alarm is necessary.  If you are looking for a wireless alarm, then we carry wireless inside motion detectors, wireless window alarms, and many more great items.  In addition, we have a wireless outside motion detector that is great for alerting you of activity outside (in its area) while you are at home.
• Physical security like locks and good neighbors or dogs can be easily overcome.
• An alarm system will make so much noise that a burglar will not stay, and is unlikely to run off with anything. Once the alarm is sounded, the intruder knows he has been detected and will waste no time in exiting.
• Consider installing a monitoring doorway camera.  This item is excellent for alerting you that someone is at your doorway, prior to you opening the door.  With the proper hookups, you can even speak to them through the camera system, so you will not have to open the door to a stranger.
• Of course, if you are present at the time, and are alerted, take any precautionary actions that could save your life.  We carry a full line of incredible stun guns, tasers, batons, and pepper spray.
• If you are not familiar with Telespy, then you must review this product.  This product is so unique and simply put it is awesome, with a capital “A.”  Everybody should have this product, no matter what type of security system they obtain.
• We even carry the newly invented wireless Motion Detector Alarm w/ Auto Dialer.  Who hates to pay monthly monitoring charges, well with this product you don't have to anymore.  This product is so unique and will soon be sweeping across America.  This crime preventor uses cutting-edge technology, which allows you to pre-record a short message into the system.  If it detects motion, then it will automatically dial up to 3 phone numbers and play the message.  We recommend the 3 phone numbers being the Police, your cell phone, and your neighbor.

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Below are some very specific ideas that were made available by the Baltimore Police Department on keeping your home safer.  (Special Notification:  M-R-Surplus.com doesn’t warranty any of the information provided below by the BPD.

Front Doors

All exterior doors should be either metal or solid core wood. All exterior doors must be at least 1 3/4" Thick!

All solid doors should be equipped with a wide angle door viewer of 190 degrees or more.

Doors that have locks within 40 inches of glass should be equipped with a double cylinder dead bolt lock. This prevents intruders from reaching in after breaking the glass to unlock the door from the inside.

Door Locks

Key-in-knob latch: The majority of doors are equipped with a standard key-in-knob latch which provides little or no security. Note the term "Latch" not lock. These devices have a spring which holds a latch in place. These latches are easily defeated by wrenching the knob with hands or vice grips, using credit cards to slip the spring latch, kicking the door, or spreading the frame.

Key-in-knob with Anti-Shim Device: Some manufactures add security features such as anti-shim devices on the key-in-knob latches. If properly installed, these devices may prevent slipping the bolt with a card. However the knob can be easily wrenched off or the jamb can be spread to release the short spring bolt.

Chain Latch: Provides false security. They are easily forced off by kicking door.

Single Cylinder Tubular Deadbolt: Key operated from the outside only. The interior operation is a thumb turn. This lock is used where there is no glass within 40 inches of the lock.

Double Cylinder Tubular Deadbolt: Keyed both exterior and interior. Should be used on doors where glass within the door is 40 inches or closer to the lock. Important, when home is occupied, the key should be readily available so that fast exits are possible in the event of emergencies.

Standard Features to Look for in a Good Lock Are

Minimum 1" bolt throw
1/4" case hardened bolts
Free spinning beveled cylinder guards constructed of case hardened steel

Strike Plates

The weakest point of a good lock may be the strike plate, which secures the bolt when the door is locked. Because of the way the frame is constructed, the strike plate must be reinforced. Thin gauge metal strike plates should be replaced with heavy duty strike plates secured with number 12 three inch wood screws. Most older strike plates are secured by two half inch screws.

Sliding Glass Doors

Sliding glass doors and windows offer the intruder several means of entry. These include prying the doors open with a screwdriver or pry bar, lifting the door or window out of the track, or simply breaking the glass. You can help prevent this by:

Using screws or a piece of wood attached to the top of the track to take up the space above the sliders preventing the slider from being lifted out of the track.  A Charlie Bar or similar device should be used to prevent the door from being pried open. A simple piece of wooden dowel cut the length between the door and frame and placed on the bottom track will prevent door from being pried open.

Window Security

Security devices for windows vary, depending on the type of window and its location.

Crescent Latch: The crescent latch found on double hung windows is not a security device. It's function is to keep the upper and lower windows together. A keyed crescent latch is not to be considered a security device either.

There are several methods available to secure double hung windows. Key locks which pin the upper and lower sashes together are available. Two other inexpensive methods are Pinning the window or using a wooden dowel cut to fit between the top of the bottom sash to the top frame. Make sure none of your homes windows are blocked by shrubbery or trees. Especially lower basement windows.

Lighting

Each entrance should be illuminated with a 40 watt bulb or higher. There are several different types of outdoor lighting that can be installed. Some are photoelectric which turns on automatically at dusk and off at daybreak. Motion detectors turn lights on when someone walks through a infrared beam. Inexpensive timers can be purchased and installed in your home. These timers can be set to turn on and off lights throughout your home when you are not present thus giving the appearance that someone is home.

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