DIY Home Protection

ABC15 news in Arizona has some timely tips for how to burglar-proof your house this summer. These budget friendly tips may make the difference between being burglarized and staying safe.

Criminal generally want to get in and out of your house fast. So the harder you make it for them, the more likely they will give up and move on.

Click the video below to watch the whole presentation (it is a little more than 2 minutes long). We have summarized the main points for you here:

The garage is a good place to start. The garage door cord that hangs in your garage can be access from outside the garage. All the intruder has to do is fish a coat hanger through and tug on the cord. This releases the door so he can enter. The solution is easy: just cut the cord.

Now let’s head to the front door. Your door-jam probably has small screws which do not provide much security. Your lock is only as effective as your door frame is sturdy. The solution? Remove the small screws and instead use 3 to 3 ½ inch screws. Use these screws to secure the door-jam all the way to and into the 2x4 that the frame is attached to. That will make it very difficult for a burglar to access. And as we mentioned above, the harder it is for him to enter, the more likely he will leave before gaining access to your home.

Finally, if you live in a home development which has locked mailboxes, you can have the lock changed or rekeyed. If you do not change the locks, the previous owners may still be able to unlock your mailbox. This exposes you not only to having your mail stolen, but they could steal your identity as well.

Click the video to watch: