Home security is a concern for many home owners, and rightfully so. According to the Fort Collins Police Department, there were 672 burglaries reported in Fort Collins in the year 2007 alone! That's almost two burglaries in this city every single night.

There are many ways that you as a home owner can improve the security of your home and make it less of a target for crime.

• Provide adequate light

  • Burglars do not like being seen. By adding motion-detector lights or simply leaving a porch light on, you can make your home less inviting to a criminal.
  • Interior lights on timers can give the illusion that a home is occupied even when you are on vacation.

• Keep large plants and shrubs trimmed

  • These seemingly harmless garden features can give a burglar much desired cover from neighbors and pedestrians on the street.

• When on vacation, do not leave clues

  • Do not leave a note on your door or change your answering machine detailing you plans, this is an opportunity for a thief to strike.
  • Arrange to have your mail and newspaper picked up, as these can also offer clues to a criminal.

• Do not leave empty boxes of expensive purchases on the curb for trash pickup

  • An empty box advertising your brand new plasma TV may be enticing to burglars on the prowl. Instead you should break down the boxes and place them in the garbage.

• Make sure you have deadbolts installed on all exterior doors

  • This includes the door between the garage and interior of the house!

• Always lock your doors, even when you are home

• Install high security locks such as Medeco

  • For more information on the many advantages of the high security locks we offer, click here.

• Lock every window, even second story ones

  • Many burglars have been known to climb into second story windows or even use ladders, knowing that these are often left unlocked.

• Do not make an opportunistic burglar's job easier- keep tools out of the yard and locked

  • A ladder, shovel, hoe, or even a brick can be used against you to break into your home.

• Install a peep hole

  • These are very inexpensive, and provide a way to view and avoid potential criminals. We can even install these at a low level to allow children to view visitors.

• Check the installation of all windows and sliding glass doors

  • Many can simply be lifted out of the frame or track if they are not installed properly.

• Etch your name or drivers license number into all expensive items such as electronics

  • This allows fast recovery from the police, who are trained to look for such things. It also may tip off an attentive employee at a pawn shop.
  • Do not etch your social security number into anything.

• Purchase and bolt down a secure safe

  • Not all safes are created equal. Ask us about the difference in safes, such as the difference between a fire safe and a burglary safe. Click here for more information.

• If you have just moved into a new home, have the locks rekeyed

  • This prevents previous occupants from returning with an old key.
  • We can do this without replacing the locks, just canceling out the old key and making the lock recognize a new one.

• Do not hide keys in obvious places

  • This includes under the door mat, under a plant pot, or in a mailbox.
  • We sell secure combination locks which work great as a place to store a spare key. This can be mounted to a wall, and can only be accessed with the proper code.

• Provide adequate protection for your guns

  • Store ammunition and weapons in secure safes, and also install secure gun locks as a second layer of protection.

      The fact is that locking up is the best way to be safe and protect against burglaries and vandalism because burglaries are crimes of opportunity that happen with little advance planning; offenders are looking for an easy mark. Easy marks have unlocked doors, windows that can be removed quickly, or entries hidden behind landscaping or fences.

      Burglars or vandals want to enter quickly, work fast, and get out; they want as little risk as possible. The trick is to slow down intruders, to make their work hard and to be sure that the risk is theirs, not yours. If the risk is too great, burglars move on to more vulnerable targets.

      Call us today to schedule a security audit by one of our trained security technicians. The objective of a security audit is to assess the risk level of every possible entry point to your home, business or building. Potentially every opening - door, window, roof vent, etc. - is an entry point for a criminal, and every opening has its own security specifications. During a security audit, each one is tested against the specifications; if the opening is found to be at risk recommendations will be made to classify it as secure. Also feel free to also check out these Top 10 Burglary Prevention Tips.

      For any questions regarding your security, don't hesitate to call us: (970) 484-4375