How to Baffle Burglars

Do's
- If you are installing a big plate-glass window or door, insist on reinforced glass instead of plain glass.
- Arrange to keep your lawn mowed while you're away on vacation.
- Ask the police department to check your house regularly while you’re away; inform the police which friend or neighbor has your itinerary and a key to your house, and give the police the exact dates of your departure and return.
- If possible, keep not one but several indoor low-wattage bulbs burning at night. For good measure, leave a radio on near the front door as well.
- Make sure your door hinges are on the inside rather than the outside of the doors or at least make sure the pins in the hinges cannot be removed. Keep unused doors locked at all times.
- Do realize that Christmas-New Year's - the greatest holiday week of the year - also is the period when burglars of homes and apartments reach their peak. During this time - when gifts are scattered throughout the place, when you are visiting friends and relatives freely and on impulse, when week-long trips are commonplace - it's just natural not to be cautious. Instead be extra cautious. Under no circumstances should you leave any doors unlocked even for a few minutes.
- Have locks and keys changed if you move to a new house or apartment or if you accidentally lose your keys.
- Check the reputation and references of any new person working in or around your house.
- Invest in a peephole so you can see who's knocking before you open the door.
- Be wary of suspicious callers who actually may be casing your house for burglary possibilities and don't fall for suspicious invitations to get you out of the house. In one classic case, a burglar sent a set of free theater tickets to a suburban couple, then looted their home while his "guests" were enjoying the show.

Don'ts
- Don t put identification of any sort on your keys.
- Don't leave ladders in plain sight and don't leave all your window shades down, a sure sign you are away.
- Don't leave notes on your front door indicating you are away.
- Don't advertise the fact you're away by allowing a notice of your vacation to be published in the local newspaper social column, an excellent source of information for burglars. Other favorite sources of this information are wedding and funeral notices. Make sure your house is well protected while you’re attending such occasion.
- Don't assume that burglars operate only at night. There are now many daytime burglaries as there are nighttime burglaries, and the number of daytime burglaries is soaring.
- If you have an electronic device, which opens your garage doors, don't forget that if you can open the door by crossing a beam of light so can a thief. Open your garage door the traditional way instead: using your key in your pockets.