• Don’t leave a ladder outside your home. Why make it easy for a burglar? 
• Don't be predictable. Once inside, thieves do just what you do when you come home: they head for the bedroom. That's where most people keep their valuables. A jewelry box on top of your dresser is easy to find. 
• Keep trees and hedges trimmed. This gives intruders fewer places to hide while they plot to break into your home. 
• Keep your doors locked. Even though this sounds simple, you may be surprised that in almost half of all home burglaries, intruders enter through an unlocked door. 
• When service men come to your home, ask for their ID and don’t be shy about calling the company for verification. 
• Take pictures of your heirlooms and personal items, should you ever need to identify them later. 
• Create a neighborhood watch on your block. 
• Make sure the gates are locked if you have a fence. 
• Get a safe to place precious jewels, credit cards, birth certificate and passports.

• Create and practice a home emergency escape plan. 
• Prevent electrical fires by never overloading circuits or extension cords. 
• Keep paints, thinners and other flammable liquids stored in their original containers, well away from heat, sparks or flame. 
• Don’t leave cooking unattended. 
• Never leave burning candles unattended. 
• Keep household chemicals, matches and lighters stored out of reach of children. 
• Clean out storage areas; do not let trash accumulate. 
• Have working smoke alarms; make sure they are tested monthly. 

• Hot door: do not open 
• Cool door: open slowly and make sure fire and/or smoke is not blocking your escape route 
• If you or your clothes catch on fire, stop, drop and roll. 
• Crawl low under any smoke to your exit; heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling. 
• Close doors behind you as you escape to delay the spread of the fire 
• Stay out once you're out! 
• Call 9-1-1

• Put your US postal mail on hold for street mail boxes. 
• Put your lights on a timer to discourage burglars from entering the home. 
• Hire a caretaker to check on your home while you're gone. 
• Make sure all doors and windows are locked before you leave. 
• Make sure the alarm system is armed. 
  
  

Remember, the number one safety tip is to have a monitored alarm system for your home! Call Secure Alarms today to begin protecting you and your family from unpredictable events. Call 410-356-2009