KDKA.com Consumer Web Extras
Aug 6, 2009 4:50 pm US/Eastern
Expert Tips For Home Security Improvements
(KDKA)
There are more homes broken into during summer than any other season, according to the National Crime Prevention Council.
But the experts with Consumer Reports say some key moves that don't cost a lot of money can really beef up home security.
Consumer Reports says forgetting to lock the inside door and leaving valuables in plain sight make a home more of a target.
Experts say many burglars kick in a door to break into a home.
Consumer Reports says the door itself isn't usually the weak spot.
Instead, they say the problem is that the lock strikes are held by 3/4 inch screws. They aren't long enough to go into the main beam of the building.
So when you kick in the door, it just breaks away the wood.
You can strengthen any exterior door by using a metal, reinforced box strike, Consumer Reports says.
They're about $10 at most hardware stores. If you install them using three-inch screws, they'll go into the framing beyond the doorjamb.
Experts say you can also make your home more secure by lodging a pole against your sliding glass doors, and by having good outdoor lighting installed high up so that it can't easily be disabled.
If you have the money to install an alarm, Consumer Reports suggests a system that includes sensors throughout your home, not just on doors and windows.
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