Outdoor
SecurityThere are many ways to maintain good security without sacrificing aesthetics. If you want a decorative hedge or a neat fence surrounding your property, do it. A clear delineation of your property line will help establish trespassing if a would-be intruder were apprehended on your property. However, don’t make either so high that an intruder cannot be seen from the street. Remember that if someone wanders onto your property, for example, a child taking a shortcut, and gets hurt, you might be liable.
If you have valuable art, collections, antiques or similar treasures, place them on inside walls where you can enjoy them, but don’t put them near windows through which they can be removed. At night, be sure your drapes or blinds are always closed.
Back outside, don’t let hedges or bushes get so big an intruder can hide behind them. And don’t store firewood near the house. An intruder can either hide behind it, or he can use the firewood to climb up to an unlocked second-story window. Remember to keep your lawn mowed in summer, the snow removed in winter and your garage door always shut. And when you are running errands in your vehicle, always lock the doors. That might sound obvious, but someone in my community recently made a five-minute stop to purchase lunch and left his company van unlocked!! He returned to find most all of his tools gone.
Do not put names on your mailbox or front door. A thief might walk by, see your name, check the phone book for the number, call, find no one home and break in and steal something he saw while walking by the house.
A swimming pool presents several security problems. A high, sturdy fence is essential to prevent children from falling into the pool. All-night lighting around the pool might discourage nocturnal swims by strangers, but it also is a signal to a thief that your home is of some affluence. A yard dog, neighborhood patrol or even an organized neighborhood watch group may be better to deter visitors than attention-getting lighting. Tool sheds, storm cellars, greenhouses and other such structures should be equipped with strong padlocks and top-quality hasps and hinges.
Know your neighbors, so that you can be wary of strangers. One group of thieves achieved great success by staging fights in residential neighborhoods. Spectators got so carried away, they never noticed a couple of guys breaking away, sneaking into unlocked houses and walking off with valuables—within 20 seconds. If you hear breaking glass or an explosive noise or a car crash, it’s time to call the police. If you see a prowler in your yard or your neighbor’s, turn on every light available, activate the alarm if you have one, and call the police. Do NOT attempt to apprehend anyone yourself!
Exercise caution, know as many neighbors as you can, let your trusted neighbors know if you are gone so they can watch your home (and be sure they know how to reach you) and keep your ears and eyes open at all times.
