Home and Car Security

Warm Weather is here.  During summer months families are out picnicking, hiking and swimming.  Don’t be the one to leave your home unprotected. Every year 1 in 5 families is a victim of crime. Believe it or not a crime occurs every two seconds:

• One PROPERTY CRIME happens every 3 seconds.
• One VEHICLE THEFT every 20 seconds.
• One LARCENY every 4 seconds.
• One BURGLARY every 10 seconds.
• ONE VIOLENT CRIME every 20 seconds.
• One AGGRAVATED ASSAULT every 35 seconds.
• One ROBBERY every 60 seconds.

SOME SPECIFICS

In our estimation the following tip is worth at least the price of your car. We found this information floating around the internet, and believe that it definitely is worth our honorable mention. It’s the simple things that keep us – and our belongings – safe.

Here’s what’s going on as you read this post…
A thief simply peers through the windshield of a car or truck, writes down the VIN # from the label on the dash, goes to a local car dealership and requests a duplicate key based on the VIN #.

The car dealer’s parts department will make a duplicate key from the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will return to the selected car. The thief doesn’t have to break in, do any damage to the vehicle, or draw undue attention. All the crook has to do is walk up to the car, insert the key and off goes the vehicle to a local “chop shop”.  You don’t believe it? Check it out for yourself. It IS that easy.

To avoid this from happening to you, simply use tape (any type that is opaque: electrical tape, duct tape or medical tape) to cover the VIN #. It’s located on the dash near the windshield (usually on the driver’s side).  By law, you cannot remove the VIN label, but you CAN cover it so it can’t be viewed through the windshield by a car thief.

Other things to remember:

• Keep your car in good running condition.
• Make sure there’s enough gas to get where you’re going.
• Always carry a cell phone.
• Check inside around and under the car before getting in.
• Drive with your car doors locked and your windows up.
• Always roll up the windows and lock car doors when you leave your car.
• Never leave your car running.
• Avoid parking in isolated areas. Be especially alert in parking garages. Try to park in well lit areas close to walkways, stores, and people.
• If you think someone is following you, don’t head home. Drive to the nearest police or fire station, gas station, or other open business to get help.
• If you are bumped by another car, look to make sure there are other cars around.  If you feel uneasy, signal the car to follow you and drive to the nearest police station or busy well-lit area.
• If you get out of your car take your keys, and your purse or wallet.
• Do everything you can to keep a stranger from getting into your car or forcing you to get into their car.
• If a car-jacker threatens you: give up your car rather than your life!

• If you need some fresh air windows should only be down about 2 inches.

“It won’t happen to me”, is the kind of attitude that will catch you off-guard. Learn about crime prevention and the attitude of the criminal. Criminals look for easy prey. They want to get in and out as fast as they can or take their victim to an isolated area.  A key point is: if the criminal wants an easy target, then your objective is to be a hard target. The harder you make it, the more likely the criminal will move on.

With a home, the single most common method of entry is through the front or garage door. A friend was recently robbed. He lost a computer, tools and several other valuables worth thousands of dollars. He and his wife had left a window open for their pets. Our advice – a pet door is far more convenient for your pets and far less expensive than even a small insurance deductable – not to mention the fact that a closed window probably would have prevented the theft altogether.

For more home improvement tips and information search our website or call our listener line any time at 1-800-737-2474! All you need to do is leave your name, telephone number and your question.

 

Related Posts

• 

  There’s No Place Like Home
  There’s No Place Like Home
• 

  Show Notes: If You Give a Goldfish a Flush…
  Show Notes: If You Give a Goldfish a Flush…
• 

  Show Notes: And Then It Exploded!
  Show Notes: And Then It Exploded!
• 

  Show Notes: If You’ve Got It, Haunt It!
  Show Notes: If You’ve Got It, Haunt It!

You must be logged in to post a comment Login