Don’t forget to lock your door when you’re outside

Home invasion is a crime of opportunity and burglars are going to take any opportunity they can to get into your home if the situation presents itself.

I’ve been hearing stories about people in quiet, “safe” places falling victim to home invasions while they’re outside in their own yards, gardening or entertaining friends on the patio.

A burglar like this has to be very brazen and possibly armed. Your best protection in this case is to keep your doors and windows locked if you’re going to be outside for any length of time, even in the back yard. If you have a security system, turn it on when you’re going outside. Invest in good quality locks and security products. You’ll find an excellent selection at our Berkeley locksmith shop.

A couple other suggestions:

• Don’t leave a key under a door mat, a silly fake rock, in a mailbox, above a door frame or anywhere else blatantly obvious.
• Get a dog who will bark at anyone approaching your home.
• In the event that an intruder does make his way in your home, don’t make it easy for him to take your valuables. Never leave your purse in plain sight. Don’t leave cash or jewelry on your kitchen counter. If there’s nothing worth stealing in the kitchen, the burglar is likely to make a bee line to the master bedroom. Try hiding your valuables in an unsuspecting place. There’s a wide variety of safes available at our Berkeley locksmith shop located at 1908 University Avenue. Hide your safe in the laundry room, maybe a bathroom vanity, a garage or even a freezer.

It doesn’t have to be dark to make a burglar interested in your property so try to always be cognizant of protecting your home and your family.