Home Safety

Here are some tips to keep in mind to keep yourself and your family safe while at home:

• Answer doors and phones so a potential burglar will know your home is occupied.
• Never tell a caller you are alone; give the impression that someone is with you.
• Install a home security system and ensure that it is on before you leave your home and while you are in for the night.
• Look through a peephole, window or smart home doorbell to see who is outside the door. Never open it to anyone you do not know.
• Verify repairmen with their dispatchers before allowing them inside. Have a friend/family member with you or have someone call to check in on you.
• If someone you do not know asks to make an emergency phone call, do not open the door; make the call for them.
• Children are less cautious; be careful about letting them answer the door or phone at an early age.
• If you think that a forced entry has been made, do not go inside. Go to a safe place and get help as soon as possible.
• Plan escape routes and keep emergency numbers posted by your phones. Two separate fire escape plans should be created for your home and known by everyone living at the residence. 
• In apartment complexes, be cautious of laundry rooms, parking lots and isolated areas. Insist that they be well-lit and inform management if you have any concerns. Use these areas only when accompanied by a trusted friend or neighbor.
• Never give out information about yourself or where you live to a stranger.
• Do not indicate on your mailbox or in the phone directory that you are a female or living alone.
• If you are confronted in your neighborhood or community and must yell for help, yell "Fire!" This phrase gets the best response from bystanders. Breaking glass or blowing a car horn can be effective as well.