from our "home remodeling" project library

Home Safety Starts with You

More than 2.1 million burglaries are committed each year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nine out of every ten of those break-ins could be prevented every person knew the basics of home protection, the Insurance Information Institute reports. 

Burglar-Proof Your Home

Installing a home alarm serves as a major deterrent to any would-be thief who trips it. But it's only one of several home protection steps that you can take:

• Lock doors and windows
• Keep bushes and trees trimmed so no one is able to covertly enter and exit your home
• Lock up valuables, including expensive tools
• Use outdoor lights with motion detectors
• Participate in a neighborhood watch program
• When you're out of town:
• Use light timers to make your home look lived in
• Stop mail and newspapers
• Employ snow shoveling and grass trimming services
• Ask neighbors to put out and pull in your trash cans on pick-up days

Burglars Work When You Do

Thieves generally strike during workday hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Often, they enter through an unlocked door or window.  Rented homes are at twice the risk of theft than owner-occupied homes, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Home Safety Makes Financial Sense

Burglary losses averaged $1,725 in 2005, according to the FBI. Safety alarms are tailored for all living situations. You can buy or rent them, and they can cost as little as $100 for a simple wireless system. Insurance companies generally offer discounts of between 2 percent and 20 percent when you install a home alarm. Add in the comfort of feeling safe at home, and those numbers are hard to beat.