Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
entry difficult unless the intruders are equipped with heavy entry tools.
Properly installed, they will prevent the door from being kicked in.
ADDITIONAL POINTS OF ENTRY
The roof is another potentially vulnerable access point. Most houses have
ducts for the cooling system, vents, and fireplace. Make sure they are
secure. Often adjacent buildings provide easy access to the roof. Don't
overlook this point. A German family living in mainland China several
years ago was murdered by intruders who gained access in just this
manner. Get a competent contractor to seal off these points if you can't
do it yourself. In addition, if tree limbs in your yard or adjacent to your
home could provide access to the roof or to upper-level windows, they
must be cut down. If the landlord refuses, go live somewhere else.
LIGHTING
Indoor and outdoor lighting are valuable means of enhancing security.
Thieves hate bright lights. So do terrorists and, for that matter, anyone
attempting to surreptitiously gain entry to your home. Motion-sensitive
lights are cheap and easy to install and are quite effective in discouraging
potential intruders. They make a great difference. Make sure you position
the lights where they are of most use. Often lights are placed in the front
and back of the homes by doorways. This may be acceptable if those door-
ways are the only ways in and out. However, if you have side windows
located in a poorly lit area, you will only be directing a potential intruder
to move his or her attempted point of entry to those windows. Lighting
should cover all exterior walls of the residence. The external perimeter,
along the fence or property line, should ideally be illuminated as well.
While we are talking about lower windows, it is a good time to men-
tion that often homes have decorative bushes or trees near or under win-
dows. Look at these areas and use a bit of common sense. If an intruder
could use them for concealment, have them removed or cut back. The key
to remember is to make assailants feel exposed and vulnerable to discov-
ery no matter where they attempt to get in. There is nothing more to it.
Make them uncomfortable with the prospect of trying to get into your
house, and they will most likely move on to an easier target.
