How to be Safe 2

How to Be Safe When You Are at Home Part 2

Habit #5: Use the Phone Wisely. Do not give information to telephone callers you don’t know. Never record a message on your answering machine that admits you are not home. Instead, try saying, “We are not available to answer the phone right now…”

If you are home alone, make it less obvious to someone by pretending to talk to someone in the background. Answer the phone and say, “I’ve got it.” This may feel silly to talk to yourself, but it gives the caller the impression that someone else is with you.

You can also set your phone to block any anonymous calls. This keeps any person not wanting to identify themselves from reaching you on your line.

Be sure to you can get to a phone when you need to. Place phones in several rooms in your house. If you live by yourself, keep a phone in the master closet. If you hear anything unsettling you can pop into the closet and make a phone call to the police.

Habit #6: Keep Valuables out of Sight. A burglar might try to smash through the window to quickly grab something valuable seen and then run away. Keep this in mind when arranging your home. A computer, tv or stereo system directly in from on a window makes the “pickings” seem easy.

Keep your garage and sheds closed as well. Lightweight items such as lawn mowers, leaf blowers, bikes or tools are an optimal target for a robber.

Habit #7: Track Your Trash. If you have just bought a new stereo or computer, don’t set the boxes out for display down the street. Break down the boxes and either put them in the trash can or cart them to the local recycling bin.

Be aware that many thieves rifle through trash to get information about the home’s occupants. Rip up any ATM receipts, bank statements, bills, unopened credit card offers etc… Criminals can turn for information into easy money and cause you a major headache as well as identity theft. Think about buying a paper shredder to make your trash is unreadable.

Habit #8: Be Alert and Cautious When You Are Out and About. Taking an evening jog or a morning walk with the dog shouldn’t be dangerous, but it is always a good idea to know your surroundings. Get in the habit of looking around every time you enter or exit your home. Watch for anything unusual.

Security experts suggest not wearing headphones while you exercise in public or even work on the garden. You can’t hear if someone approaches. They are also a signal that you are not paying attention.