Home Security Resources

San Diego News 8 CrimeFighters
The website for San Diego's New 8 maintains a section called CrimeFighters, dedicated to Helping to Make San Diego a Safer Place to Live. The site provides a wealth of information. Many of the stories are of value and interest for people outside of San Diego. For example, stories cover making "mobile blogging" safer for kids, an online sex offender website, carjacking, the high cost of DUI arrest,and more. The site includes special features, such as consumer alerts (e.g., Internet phones, glass tables), an identity theft tip sheet, safety tips for senior citizes, how to protect yourself against domestic violence, how to protect yourself against violent crime, and a lot of information for protecting your child (covering fingerprint cards, do-it-yourself DNA sampling kits, making kits stranger savvy, keeping kids safe at school and play and at home alone). Finally, there is a resource section of information from other sites.

30 Ways to Protect Your Home
This site from the Chattanooga Police Department could help save you and your family from the devastating lifelong trauma of a break-in. This site has a total of 30 tips, including tips for homeowners, tips for apartment dwellers, and even tips for what to do if you are burglarized. First, keep doors and windows locked, even if you only plan to be away for a few minutes. Most burglars can be in and out of your home in less than five minutes. Have new locks installed whenever you move into a new apartment or house; otherwise, there's no way of knowing who might have a key to your home. Remember to have dead bolts installed. Never hide a key under a flowerpot or anywhere else outside; crooks can find a hidden key in a matter of moments. Use a peephole in a door rather than open the door, even during the day, if you're not certain who is on the other side. Never tell a wrong number what your phone number is. Instead, ask them what number they intended to dial. Don't leave you house key with parking attendants, it is too easy for them to make a duplicate. These are just a few of the many tips this site has to keep your home or your apartment safe from crooks.