Keeping You and Your Home Safe From...

Break-Ins

No homeowner ever wants to experience the violation of a home intruder.  There are things you can do to reduce the risk of it happening to you and your home:

          - Flaunt the presence of a home security system with several signs
          - Don’t let main pile up: have a neighbour pickup your mail if you go away
          - Offer your driveway to friends or neighbours to park their car in while you are away
          - Check if a friend or neighbour will clear your driveway if it snows while you are away
          - Secure sliding doors and windows to stop them from moving horizontally and vertically
          - Use multiple timers on TVs and lights to give the impression that someone is home
          - Keep valuables and important papers in a safe deposit box
          - Avoid advertising the purchase of new audio/video equipment by breaking down the boxes for recycling
          - Replace all locks as soon as you take possession of a new home
          - Install dead bolt locks on all outside doors
          - Lock doors and windows when you are home alone
          - Verify who is on the other side of the door before opening it
          - Get identification from repair or sales people before you let them in
          - List only your last name and first initial in the phone book

Fire

Protect yourself and your loved ones by from fire by following these tips:

          - Before a fire ever occurs, talk and walk through routes from every room in your home, and think through
            alternate routes
          - Test windows and doors - do they open easy enough? Are they wide enough? Tall enough?
          - Check smoke detectors monthly and change batteries at least once a year
          - Keep portable and space heaters at least 3 feet away from anything that may burn.  Never leave them on
            when you leave your home or go to sleep
          - If grease catches fire while you are cooking, cover it with a lid to smother the fire and turn the burner off
          - Have your chimney cleaned annually. The creosote buildup can ignite a chimney fire that could easily
            spread
          - Have one or more fire extinguishers in your home - and learn how to use them
          - In the event of a fire, close all doors behind you as you leave
          - Crawl below the smoke.  If trapped, lay low and shout
          - Choose a safe meeting place outside the house