Protecting your Property Look for high quality Grade-1 or Grade-2 locks for exterior doors to resist twisting, prying, and lock-picking attempts. A high-quality deadbolt lock with a beveled casing will hamper the use of channel-lock pliers that can shear off lock cylinder pins. A quality door knob-in-lock set will have a 'dead latch' mechanism to prevent slipping the lock with a shim or credit card. Select the following for your home or business Solid core or metal door for all entrance points Deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw bolt Knob-in-lock set with a dead-latch mechanism Four-screw, strike plate with 3-inch screws to penetrate into a wooden door frame

Make Theft More Difficult Get a monitored alarm system with an exterior siren Use the window stickers your alarm installer provides you. Deterrence --stopping a criminal intrusion into your home or business before it happens--is the best way to keep you and your loved ones safe Always lock your doors and windows Put deadbolt locks on external doors Change locks when you move Install keyed window locks If you must give out an alarm code to a guest or service worker, call your alarm company to set up a special guest code. Ask them if your security system can be set up to only allow one entrance to be used with the guest code. Change the guest code every 6 months.

Fire Safety Check your fire alarm batteries every 6 months and test each device. If possible, get a monitored fire alarm system hooked up to your alarm system and use a battery back up power set up. Install a carbon monoxide detection system. Carbon monoxide poisoning is an avoidable household tragedy but you need a detector for maximum protection, as carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and the #1 killer Make sure you have fire extinguishers throughout your house. Check your extinguishers when you check smoke alarms and batteries. Create and practice a fire evacuation plan for your family. Contact your local fire department for details on how to set up the best plan for your home and geographic location. Start or join a neighborhood watch program in your community. Your RSS Consultant will gladly work with you to develop a free risk assessment for your neighborhood or home.

Practical Measures for Protecting Your Home Don’t Go Inside – If something isn't exactly right when you return home, don't go inside. Go to a neighbor's home for assistance. Risk embarrassment rather than endangering your life Meet your neighbors – Inform each other when workers are scheduled to be at your home so imposters can't steal valuables. If your neighbor hasn't informed you of the work to be done, call the police Pay Attention – Some victims of burglary have had their homes completely emptied by what appeared to be a moving company. The neighbors saw the truck arrive and watched the men empty the house. They didn't call the police because they assumed the neighbor, whom they hardly knew, was moving.