Your home is your castle, and, of course, you want it to be as safe as a medieval keep with a deep moat. Alas, modern homes do not have fortified walls and moats to keep invaders from entering. Instead, we have to depend on window locks, deadbolts, security systems and dogs. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from crime is good homeowners insurance against theft, damage, and vandalism. Security Insurance Group is a company staffed by independent agents. This mean that they work for you, not the big insurance companies. They work to find the policies that are right for you and your needs.
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HOME SECURITY TIPS
The Threat is Real
Living in Northern Colorado, we may feel sheltered from the violence and crime that is pervasive in other areas of the country, but this feeling can be an illusion, depending on where you live. According to an article in The Denver Post, Greeley had the highest crime rate in Northern Colorado in 2015. While this number for that year actually reflects a decline, this is still the highest rate in the region.
Regional Crime Rates
It may come as a surprise, but Fort Collins reported fewer crimes than Loveland did in 2015, with 3,373 versus 3,179. Greeley had 3,926 crimes in this same period. These numbers are per 100,000 people. Depending on what specific neighborhood you live in, you may be relatively safe from crime, or not. Even in the so-called safest neighborhoods, things still happen. Break-ins occur and violent crimes are perpetrated. How can you keep your home safe if you never call your independent agent at Security Insurance Group?
Measures to Take to Keep Your Home Safe
To keep your house less of a target for thieves, there are some simple, common-sense actions you can take.
Lock It Up!
Make sure that you consistently lock your windows and doors. Use the deadbolt on your doors, as these make it harder to kick in.
Lock the door between the house and the garage and keep the garage door down when not using it to enter or exit.
If you have an alarm system, use it even for short trips away from the house.
Don’t use a hide-a-key. Burglars know where to look for a hide-a-key and you don’t need to make it any easier on them.
Keep your home locked when you are inside and don’t open the door to strangers.
Talk to Your Neighbors
One great thing about good neighbors is that they can keep an eye on your house, and you on theirs.
Communicate when you’ll be gone for longer periods so if they see a van or moving truck, they’ll know it isn’t you and can call the police.
Let them know when people move in or out, so they know what’s going on.
Think Like a Burglar
Walk about your house and look for weak spots in your security. These might be a window that doesn’t lock well, a bush that hides a window and so gives a bugler cover.
Go inside and think about where your most precious valuables are kept. Burglars go for bedrooms and dresser drawers, so it’s smarter to keep valuables in unexpected places around the house.
Security Measures
Having an alarm system installed is a great idea and will alert you if any unauthorized people enter your home. It can also scare them off if it goes off and they are inside.
Motion detection lights are a great security measure to take.
A dog is a great deterrent. Burglars depend on surprise and nothing gives them away like a yapping dog, be it large or small.
While you may not need to dig a moat around your house in order to keep invaders from digging their way in, there are measures you can take in order to keep your home secure. For more ways to keep your home safe, check back for future blogs. In the meantime, call Security Insurance Group for homeowners or renters insurance. We are an independent agency so we work for you and will find you the policy that best fits your needs, including the right riders. Call today for more information.
