Commonly Overlooked Home Security Practices

by Tony Hall - More by Tony Hall

As a responsible adult, we always lock our houses at night or whenever we leave to prevent burglars or uninvited guests from invading our home. 

We also see to it that everyone at home adheres to basic safety and security practices. Although we strive to strictly follow these security reminders, we might still overlook some essential precautions.

Here are just a few commonly overlooked security measures:

Every member of the house should be able to set up the burglar alarm. Having a burglar alarm installed is one of the best ways to protect your home from intruders. You were advised to teach everyone in the house how to set up and shut off the alarm. But before you pass on the pin codes to everybody at home, consider their age, maturity, and trustworthiness. There are cases when a member of the household accidentally or intentionally divulged the deactivation code to burglars, permitting easy entry.

• Keep garage doors closed. A garage door is like an extra layer of security for your home, family and possessions. When you or a member of your family is at home, it is advisable to keep your garage doors closed because an open garage door is an invitation for burglars. Do not compromise your safety. Do not even give people a view to your home and your belongings. When you are not home, it is even more important to keep your garage door shut. 
• Make sure that all alarms and detection units are checked and properly maintained. Teach your kids how to use the fire extinguishers if they are old enough to carry or hold one. Let them know how to properly behave in case of emergencies and show them what to do. Schedule a regular fire or earthquake drill, if possible, so that all of you are prepared in case of emergency.
• Make sure everything is child-proof or install parental controls. For babies and toddlers, keep their surroundings safe because they do a lot of things out of curiosity and you cannot watch them all the time. For pre-teens and teenagers, install parental control on their PCs to prevent any unnecessary problems or dangers. Without proper surveillance, kids could be exposed to many security issues and sensitive contents online. Keep your internet kid-safe by installing software that monitors your child’s online activities.
• Keep your valuables locked up. Get a fireproof safe to keep all those important documents, money or whatever else that you hold valuable for emergency purposes or in case there is a home invasion, a flood, fire or other calamity.
• Teach the kids to not talk to strangers. It is all right to teach your kids about courtesy, but let them know when to not talk to strangers – especially when they are alone. Do not scare the kids right away; instead, explain to them properly and not in a voice that scares them. Lay down some basic rules that they should follow. Your kids look up at you so you need to lead them by example.
  
• Inform your kids that they should not open the door to strangers or to whoever unless they identify themselves. Whenever the doorbell rings, have that visitor identify himself or herself verbally before opening the door. Make this a regular habit so your kids will follow.
• Set up a neighborhood watch. Even a nosy neighbor can help prevent home invasions. Try to make friends with some of the families across the street and beside you. Offer to watch each others’ homes and then formalize some neighborhood watch arrangements if possible. Be vigilant.

If you live in Amarillo or the Texas Panhandle and are looking for secure, safe and modern garage doors, look no further than Willow Creek Overhead Door. Owner Tony Hall offers outstanding customer service, affordable prices and a range of products. Safety and security is a top priority for Tony, and he wants to make sure you and your loved ones are taken care of. To learn more about Willow Creek Overhead Door, contact us today.

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