Outside the Home
- Lock or secure windows and doors, both while home and out of the house.
- Placing a bell, chime or other noisemaking item on a door can provide early warning that visitors have arrived. The noise may also cause potential intruders to reconsider plans.
- If possible, reinforce doors and locks to make kicking in doors more difficult.
- If living in an apartment where improvements are not possible, consider using a door barricade bar while in the home and secure sliding glass doors.
- Never leave a spare key hidden under a rock or door mat.
- Cut back trees or bushes near windows and doors that could provide concealment.
- Make sure the home is lit well at night, to eliminate concealment opportunities.
Inside the Home
- Consider investing in an alarm and advertise that the home has one by placing stickers in windows and signs in the yard.
- Have emergency plans and protocols set up where children or teens can see them. Additionally, have important contact phone numbers next to the plan.
- Designate a safe room that can be secured from the inside and educate all household members on where to go in a crisis. Verify that the room has a charged cell phone and/or functioning landline phone, a flashlight, a first-aid kit and emergency water.
- Close all curtains and blinds at night.
- Keep purses, car keys, money and jewelry away from windows.
- Choose and practice various escape routes from the home.
Personal Training
- Teach family members to be observant of their surroundings and aware of suspicious activity when coming home. Call the police if someone is acting suspiciously.
- Never open the door to strangers. This is especially important to teach children.
- Teach members of the household how to call 911 and have a script ready for them to read to the dispatcher. This will help them calmly explain the emergency situation.
- Teach children to call trusted adults for help in cases when adults are not at home.
- If the designated safe room is used, shelter in place until police arrive.
- If a weapon is part of the home defense plan, seek training on how to properly use and secure the weapon. Practice skills regularly.
