| As a new dad, I'm starting to see my house as | | | | known for a long time. I can't run the risk of |
| this great big breach in security, complete with | | | | being locked out, particularly with a newborn. If |
| neon signs inviting every burglar in the tri-county | | | | these sound like common sense, then that's the |
| area. Okay, my house isn't quite that pathetic, but | | | | point. Doing something will always be better than |
| because I have a new child at home, I see | | | | doing nothing. |
| everything that a burglar could exploit to get into | | | | Now, I don't think one necessarily needs the |
| my house. | | | | epiphany of a new child to become quite |
| Of late I've made a conscious effort to be | | | | conscious of the status of one's home security. |
| hyper-aware of my habits around the house, | | | | Sometimes just knowing that a house with an |
| particularly as they directly relate to home | | | | ADT monitored home security burglar alarm |
| security. I've discovered a thing or two and now | | | | system installed is 3-times less likely to be robbed |
| I'm left to make sense of them. One of the | | | | than a house with no home security system |
| things I do is check the door and window locks, | | | | installed can be enough. Or discovering that the |
| particularly as I'm getting ready to call it a night. | | | | average loss of property due to burglary is more |
| I stopped and thought about that for a while and | | | | than $2,000 on average. |
| came to realize I hadn't been that bad in the past. | | | | Those are true statistics that I discovered by |
| I could recall that I generally had checked, at | | | | doing some research into home security safety |
| least, the door locks; the window locks too, but | | | | tips and statistics, and that's a new thing I've |
| less frequently. It felt good to know that I'd | | | | discovered I'm doing. Becoming hyper-aware of |
| always seemed to care about home security, but | | | | security around my home has prompted me to |
| a casual approach would no longer be acceptable. I | | | | read what I can on the topic. I've learned so |
| now make certain all the locks are locked, and | | | | many simple-but-important things that I can do |
| just a week or so ago I added a deadbolt lock to | | | | around my house each day that will make my |
| an exterior door. | | | | house a serious problem for a potential burglar. |
| I also realized that I was taking care of some of | | | | I like that about me. I like that I'm aware of what |
| the smaller, but important, home security tasks | | | | I'm doing, and that I've been doing some of it for |
| and treating them like they were just common | | | | a long time. You can too. Once you start making |
| sense. I made sure all the outdoor lights on my | | | | a conscious effort to, say, make certain your |
| house and property were functioning. I've made | | | | doors and windows are locked before you call it a |
| plans to plant rosebushes in front of a basement | | | | night, you'll find yourself wanting to do more. Run |
| window. I create the appearance that someone is | | | | with that, and make your home as safe as you |
| home at all times, which deters burglars. I recently | | | | can for you, and your family, and any new |
| gave a set of house keys to a neighbor I've | | | | additions that may come your way. |