Winter Security Outside Your Atlanta Home
We spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months. You might guess that we don’t need to worry about home security. Guess again. Home burglaries occurs just as often in the winter months. Winter increases a number of safety issues.
In my last post I gave suggestions on how to keep the inside of your home safe and secure during the winter months. In this post, I will offer additional suggestions on keeping the outside of your home safe and secure during the winter months.
Sidewalks can be slippery with ice and snow. Eliminate this risk by cleaning the walkways, or adding salt and sand.
No body home! There is another reason for keeping your sidewalks and driveways clean of snow. It lets would be burglars know that someone is at home. Accumulated snow on walkways and driveways provide an open invitation that no one is home.
If you do receive substantial snow, many home owners blow the snow against their homes. Over the course of a cold winter this can provide a ramp to windows that provides a better access for the bad guys.
With longer cold spells you can have ice build up in your gutters. This can cause extensive damage to the inside of your home when it melts down the inside walls.
Burglars love to see trash with boxes in their weekly trash pickup that have indicated the home owner has just gotten a new TV or IPad or other products. Bag all trash in opaque bags so you are not advertising your latest purchases.
Winter means less daylight and more darkness. Outdoor lighting becomes even more critical in preventing home burglaries. Check your outdoor lighting and motion detection equipment to make sure they are working properly and the cold had not hindered their functioning.
Should you get snow that needs shoveling, be careful about the extra exertion needed to get the shoveling done. Back conditions and heart attacks are frequent with snow removal. Use a snow blower with care.
Check your garage security doors that may have not been closed properly because of ice and snow.
While technically not on the outside of your home, make sure your car has been winterized. A stalled car can put you and your family members at risk.
Review the above list of outside safety and security measures to make your home safe and secure for the winter months.
