Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/68789
toolkit Home Safe Home Shut the front door! And the rest, too Some of us slow down during heat waves, but thieves are often spurred to action. Windows and doors left open for airfl ow provide easy access for bad guys, says Acting Sgt. Stu Simpson of the Calgary Police Department. Doors are thieves' most common entry point, adds Simpson, so your fi rst step should be to install deadbolts. Deadbolt kits are available at most hard- ware stores. If you must have a door with a window, be sure the glass is far enough away from the knob that an intruder can't smash the pane and reach through to open the door. And don't forget to shut and lock garage doors, especially those attached to the house (even when you're inside or working in the yard). This guards expensive tools and cuts off easy routes into the house. Windows should have strong locks and be resistant to prying crowbars. Reinforce basement and ground-fl oor windows with quality steel bars that unlock and swing open from the inside in case of fi re. Be a hard target To further deter thieves, Simpson recommends leav- ing a gap in landscaping for "natural surveillance." Masterfile Secure your casa this summer by Wendy Goldsmith SUMMER MAY BE A TIME TO RELAX THE REINS – chill out in your yard, go barefoot – but you may want to think twice before completely dropping your guard or leaving that screen door wide open (and not just because of the flies). Read on to learn how to protect your home from crime this summer. when you're away? Heading out of town this summer? Here's your pre-trip security checklist: ■ Leave lights on or attach lamps to plug-in timers. ■ Install outdoor motion-sensor lights. Is your home safe ■ Lock up bicycles and any other recreational equipment. ■ Cancel newspaper subscriptions and stop mail delivery temporarily (canada post.ca for details). ■ Install an electronic security system. ■ Keep a record of all credit card, personal and banking information in a separate, secure location in case any of this information goes missing. ■ Shred old bills, receipts and other documents that contain personal and credit information before recycling or throwing them away. ■ Have your electronic equipment and other valuables marked by the local police department so that these items are readily identifi able if stolen. ■ Remove shrubbery and other outdoor objects that could be used to conceal or aid intruders. ■ Remove valuables from vehicles parked outside your home and put an "all valuables removed" placard (pictured at left) in the window. WESTWORLD >> JUNE 2012 59