Summer is ending… but break-ins and burglary crimes can still happen. As parents prepare to send their children to school and take off for work themselves, a lot of homes are left empty and unguarded.

Home security and protection is often overlooked at these times. No one is left at home and the house is left vulnerable and ripe for burglary. Ventura County Contractors Association (VCCA) offers home security and safety tips for the public. Their list of licensed contractors, at www.vccainc.com, can also help in upgrading the features of your home to help deter burglaries and break-ins.

VCCA’s 6 Home Security and Safety Tips:

1. Check Your Locks

Door and window locks in most homes today might keep out someone who just rattles the knob, but they won’t stop a determined or professional burglar. In more than 40 percent of residential burglaries, thieves came in an unlocked door or window.

Every exterior door should have a dead-bolt lock with a one-inch throw. If you have a key-in-the-knob lock, install an auxiliary lock - a vertical bolt, cylinder dead-bolt, or horizontal-bolt model. And if you just moved into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks. You never know who may still have old keys. Do not hide your keys in mailboxes, planters, or under doormats. Give a duplicate key to a trusted neighbor instead.

Secure sliding glass doors with commercially available locks, with a rigid wooden dowel in the track or with a nail inserted through a hole drilled in the sliding door frame and projecting into the fixed frame. Lock double-hung windows with window key locks or by sliding a bolt or nail through a hole drilled at a downward angle in each top corner or the inside sash and part way through the outside sash. Consider grilles for basement or street-level windows if you live in a high-crime area.

2. Check Your Doors

Locks lose their effectiveness if they are installed in flimsy or weak doors. Make sure outside doors are solid, at least 1 3/4 inch metal or hard wood. Doors should fit tightly in their frames and hinges should be on the inside. Double check the door between your house and the garage since that is a common entry spot for thieves.

Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so you can see who is outside without opening the door. A short chain between the doors and the jamb is not a good substitute because it can be broken easily.

3. Look at Your Home from the Outside

To discourage burglars from selecting your home, make sure that any shrubbery around doors and windows is pruned so they will not hide anyone tampering with the entry points. Cut back tree limbs that could help a thief climb into second story windows.

Keep your yard well-maintained and store ladders and tools inside your garage or basement when you’re not using them. All entrances and porches should be well lit.

4. Consider an Alarm System

The simplest in-house alarm system sets up a small electrical circuit across door locks and from window to frame. When this current is interrupted by someone opening the door or window, the alarm sounds. More sophisticated systems include sensing devices that set off a siren when an intruder disturbs a field of continually moving sound or radar waves. Advanced alarm system can be monitored by a central station which alerts the police if a thief breaks in. These systems can include smoke/fire alarms and “help” or “panic” buttons to signal a medical or other emergency as well.

5. Have a Family Plan

Remember that your goal is to avoid any confrontations with a burglar since there is a good chance he or she is armed. If you find a door ajar, a screen slit, or a window broken when you come home — do not go inside. Call the police from a neighbor’s house.

6. Prepare When You Leave Town

Notify a trusted neighbor that has a view of your house of your vacation schedule and ask him or her to pick up your mail, deliveries and newspapers. Put lights and a radio on timers to create the illusion that someone is home. Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions and arrange to have your lawn and garden maintained if you will be gone a long time.

Being away from home for a vacation or for work is a big risk for us because there are lots of burglars nowadays therefore; we couldn’t guarantee that our home would be 100% safe. Here are some safety reminders provided by Peoria, Arizona Police Department

• Have a neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers.
• During an extended vacation, make arrangements to have someone mow your lawn or trim your bushes.
• Leave lights on automatic timers.
• Notify your local police department that you will be away.
• Ask a neighbor or friend to stop by your house periodically; have them open and close blinds, turn on different lights.
• Let your neighbors know when you are leaving and when you plan to return home and if you are expecting anybody at your house while you are away.
• Burglars want easy access to your home. Make sure all trees and shrubs are trimmed near all doors and windows where intruders might hide. Add exterior lights and consider lights that are activated by motion sensors.
• Burglars like to work quickly, so try to slow down their path into and around the house. You can accomplish this with:
1.deadbolt locks
2.window locks
3.bars placed in the tracks or track locks on all sliding glass doors and windows (if they would not impede your escape in an emergency)
4.locks on all doors and windows
• Don’t place the fact you are gone on your telephone answering machine.
• Don’t hide your keys on your property.
• A nosy neighbor is a burglar’s worst enemy. Get to know your neighbors and work out an arrangement to watch each other’s houses. Let them know when you will be gone and whether any deliveries are expected during your absence.
• Store jewelry and other valuables in a safe hiding place, such as a safety deposit box.
• Go through each room and write down a list of possessions, including serial numbers. Take pictures of your valuables and keep them in a safe place or with a friend or relative. This will help in the event of a burglary.

Intent on making their community a safe place for bicycle owners, Aylesbury, UK, had cycle security sessions as part of their Community Safety partnership’s cycle security month.

The events were focused on helping the residents avoid bicycle thefts from happening in their own properties. Trained officers were available to offer tips and information on cycling, cycle security, and some additional advice on property marking and home security.

4 key tips on cycle security were given out to bicycle owners, as was stated by The Bucks Herald:

There have been reports of many home burglaries in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Tulsan police have discovered that burglars and thieves have a new simple tactic up their sleeves: disarming the home security system.

The burglars first see to it that no one is home by knocking on the doors. When they’re sure that the house is empty of its residents, they go around the property to find the electric box and cut the wires. The power is cut and your home security system is disarmed, leaving your home free to be ripped off of valuables.

The police department are advising everyone to take extra precautions and backup security plans. A battery back up that lasts for more at least 4 hours and a cell phone back up are a great help. And, as usual, always lock the doors, windows, garage, and sheds. Keep your home well lit, and don’t leave anything outside your home that will potentially help a burglar or thief enter your home.

A columnist from the Daily News TSN, Athumani Maige shares his general set of rules in keeping home safe and secure.

►While it is fine to have drinking acquaintances at pubs and bars, parents should refrain from bringing home such persons unless one is sure of their reputations. Robbers have been known to befriend patrons of drinking joints, only later to terrorize a neighbourhood with spate of robberies. Being in the company of such individuals in the vicinity of the home might give the impression you know them, they can come back later and convince your family to allow them to enter your compound. Inviting casual drinking buddies home is a no-no in home security.

►Being unique for example wearing particular clothes always such as blue, red, white suits or dresses that create permanent names like Mr White, Red and Mrs Blue, or always taking the same route home every day 24/7 makes it to trace you back to your home. Vary your dress and habits; it may keep your family safe.

►Do not divulge home and family details to every Tom, Dick and Harry. They may be good people, but if they repeat the same to friends and acquaintances, the information can get to criminal elements. Once they know what you music system, TV, furniture, other valuables you may be keeping at home, it is a matter of time before they hatch a plan to remove them out from your care. Children should be taught not to give important information to outside persons who may use it to rob the family.

►Home security lights at night play a big role to deter crimes at residences. It is important that homes must be installed with security lights whose switches are located inside the house and can not be accessed from outside. Rules must put in place that such security lights are switch on and off every night by a family member only. Thieves don’t attempt to attack a house surrounded by of lights as they can be identified by family members or neighbours. This is why robbers shout to family members to switch off all lights during the robbery.

►A physical perimeter or fence surrounding a residence has more capability to stop crime at homes because criminals are slowed down when they have to jump fences during house breaking. Many have been trapped in these home fences as family members wake up and see a thief before s/he can climb out the compound.

►Keeping all front and back doors locked at all times can save lives and stop unfriendly guests getting into your house.

►Door bells or knocks should be answered by grown up family members who can identify a person requesting for permission to enter the residence. Under age children should not be allowed to welcome guests especially at night or late evenings. Family members can easily be taken as human shield during robbery.

►A family living with security awareness must have a planned and agreed procedure to follow during home invasion by robbers. Such procedures must be known to all family members including children. Some families have actually rehearsed these procedures which include places of hiding and who will stand guard. The front doorway must always be left clear during external or forceful home breaking. This is because thieves target breaking the front door with heavy object like a big stone which can injure anyone trying to stand or protect that door.

Athumani Maige also advices us on what to do when our home are invaded:

◄Don’t panic but keep hope that a help is on the way. Continue shouting and calling for help.

◄Never obey orders by the bandits to switch off security lights and remain quiet. The light and noises at the invaded home are the only hope that will bring help to family. Darkness will create a safe avenue for escaping bandits

◄If your neighbour is invaded, you should never rush towards the invaded home since such a move can be very risky and can put your own life in danger. Bandits normal leave a static patrol outside the invaded home. The best you can do to help your invaded neighbour is to call for the police support and response.

◄If you own a gun you can make several shots in the air or through windows and of different directions of your house. The noise may scare the bandits who may abort the robbery or attack and alert police patrol’s attention.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) a Home is a place for families to be safe and secured.

Each year, 33.1 million people are injured by consumer products in the home. Some hazards are from products the Agency has warned about for years; others come from new products and technologies. “The home is where people feel comfortable and secure, but constant awareness is the key to keeping families safe,” according to Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. (CPSC)

For families to be alert, the CPSC identified the Top Five Hidden Home Hazards for people to be aware of:

1.Magnets - Since 2005
1 Death, 86 Injuries;
8 million magnetic toys recalled

Today’s Magnets can be very small and powerful making them popular in toys, building sets, and jewelry. That is swallowed by children which can cause serious injuries for them.
Tip: Watch carefully for loose magnets and magnetic pieces and keep away from younger children (less than 6). If you have a recalled product with magnets, stop using it, call the company today, and ask for the remedy.

2.Recalled Products
Each year there about 400 recalls.

Recalled toys, clothing, children’s jewelry, tools, appliances, electronics and electrical products.
Tip: Get dangerous products out of the home. And report or email it to CPSC.

3.Tip-overs
Average of 22 deaths per year;
31 in 2006 and an estimated 3,000 injuries.

Furniture, TVs and ranges can tip over and crush young children.
Tip: Verify that furniture is stable on its own. For added security, anchor to the floor or attach to a wall. Free standing ranges and stoves should be installed with anti-tip brackets.

4. Windows & Coverings
Average of 12 deaths annually from window cords;
Average of 9 deaths and an estimated 3,700 injuries to children annually from window falls.

Children can strangle on window drapery and blind cords that can form a loop. Kids usually love to play around windows.
Tip: Safeguard your windows: repair pull cords ending in loops and install window guards or stops today.

5. Pool & Spa Drains
15 injuries, 2 fatalities from 2002-2004.

The suction from a pool drain can be so powerful that it can hold an adult under water, but most incidents involve children.
Tip: Every time you use a pool or spa, inspect it for entrapment hazards. Check to make sure appropriate drain covers are in place and undamaged.

Most people believe that a home without a static guard is absolutely not safe.

But, didn’t we realize that a home without a static guard is not as safe as a home with a company hired guard who is basically ignorant of security rules and even sometimes seen sleeping.

Security awareness is more important within a home. We should not depend on or trust everything on the guard designated for the security of our house. Home guards are increasing making it more commercial and less professional thus; its performance depends on the homeowner’s awareness on its duties and responsibilities.

Rules should be set for securing a home:

* While it is fine to have drinking acquaintances at pubs and bars, parents should refrain from bringing home such persons unless one is sure of their reputations. Robbers have been known to befriend patrons of drinking joints, only later to terrorize a neighborhood with spate of robberies. Being in the company of such individuals in the vicinity of the home might give the impression you know them, they can come back later and convince your family to allow them to enter your compound. Inviting casual drinking buddies home is a no-no in home security.

* Home security lights at night play a big role to deter crimes at residences. It is important that homes must be installed with security lights whose switches are located inside the house and can not be accessed from outside.

* A physical perimeter or fence surrounding a residence has more capability to stop crime at homes because criminals are slowed down when they have to jump fences during house breaking.

* Keeping all front and back doors locked at all times can save lives and stop unfriendly guests getting into your house.

* Door bells or knocks should be answered by grown up family members who can identify a person requesting for permission to enter the residence.

* Do not divulge home and family details to anyone. They may be your friends or good people but if they spread these information to others, It might get to criminal elements. Once they know some appliances, furnitures, or other valuables you may be keeping at home, it is a matter of time before they hatch a plan to remove them out from your care. Children should be taught not to give important information to outside persons who may use it to rob the family.

* A family with security awareness must have a planned and agreed procedure in case a robber would attack. Procedures must be familiarize by family members including children.