Lake Forest, CA – May 2004 - Break-ins are a crime of opportunity, where entry is often gained due to carelessness of homeowners. Follow these ten essential tips to help improve the security of your home and family.

1) Lock All Of Your Home’s Entryways 24/7

Most unlawful entry is through doorways and almost 1 in 3 burglaries are through unlocked doors and windows. An unlocked lock does not provide any protection.

• 51% of break-ins occur during daylight hours
• More than 2 million burglaries occur every year; one every 13 seconds

2) Deadbolt All Exterior Entrances

Most burglaries are the result of forcible entry. Every exterior entryway into your home needs a deadbolt with a full 1” throwbolt.

• Treat doors leading from the garage to house as exterior doors
• Exterior doors should be solid, 1-3/4” hardwood with secure frames

3) Intruders Fear the Spotlight

Intruders fear being seen, don’t give them a place to hide.

• Use motion activated light fixtures
• Exterior lighting around a home’s perimeter creates a psychological barrier
• Light porches and other entrances with at least a 40-watt bulb
• Trim overgrown bushes, tree limbs, or landscaping to the height of porches or windows

4) Glass Can Shatter Your Security

• Use glass brick around entryways and secure grates onto door sidelights. Where building codes allow, install double cylinder deadbolts that need to be opened with a key from the inside as well as the outside
• A sliding glass door is lifted into position when installed – and easily lifted out if you’re not careful. Adjust screws in the door track to limit clearance, and place a wooden dowel or broom handle in the door’s track.
• Retrofit ground floor windows with locking hardware

5) While On Vacation, Maintain the Appearance of Occupancy

• Use automatic timers to turn on different lights at different times
• Have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers
• During the winter, arrange to have snow shoveled
• Put a radio or a TV on a timer. Turn the ringer on the telephone down

6) Start a Neighborhood Watch

• Neighbors watching out for each other are the most effective method of crime prevention. Host a neighborhood watch get-started meeting for your block, and invite a police department representative to assist with planning, education, training and prevention techniques

7) Remember that Key You Put Under the Mat?

• Never hide keys under a mat, in planters or taped above a door jamb: Burglars know these places
• Only leave keys with trusted neighbors and family
• Don’t place identification tags on your key or key rings

8) Help the Police Help You

• Report strangers running through private yards or alleyways or anyone looking into windows of houses or parked cars
• House numbers should be at least 4” – 6” high, reflective and visible from the street. Numbers should be illuminated at night
• Call the police. Don’t worry about false alarms. Be safe, not sorry
• Call 911 if an emergency threatens human life or property

9) Burglars Prefer Cash

• Criminals want cash and items easily fenced for cash like small electronic equipment, computers, cameras, jewelry and guns
• Leaving empty stereo and television boxes in the alley or on the curb is a strong temptation for criminals to inquire within
• Hide your valuables or keep them under lock and key
• Engrave your valuables with “This Property Stolen From…” and include your driver’s license number. Marked property is difficult to fence and easier to recover

10) Gone In 60 Seconds

• Research by the National Crime Prevention Institute shows that burglars generally will work no longer than 60-seconds to obtain entry
• Kwikset exterior locks offer a number of features tested and proven to resist kick-ins, saw attacks, picking attempts, wrench-offs and prying
• Be informed. Insist on the best security available

Kwikset has been a leader in the lockset industry for more than 50 years. The company manufactures and markets a complete line of door hardware, including handlesets, knobs, levers, deadbolts, and pocket door hardware for the residential and light commercial markets, under the Kwikset UltraMax Security®, Kwikset Maximum Security®, Kwikset Security®, Weiser Lock®, Society Brass Collection® and Baldwin® Hardware brands.

Kwikset is a Black & Decker Company, headquartered in Lake Forest, California.

For more information about Kwikset products, visit www.kwikset.com or call 1-800-327-LOCK.