How to Protect Your Home From Burglars

Dec. 3, 2008
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/SmartHome/story?id=6386750

Watch "Good Morning America" Thursday as a security expert tests one woman's home and finds it's not as safe as she thought it was.

Home Burglary Prevention

Use your locks. Even the best locks can't protect you if you don't use them.

Do some yard work. Trim hedges and bushes so thieves can't hide out.

Know your neighbors. Neighbors who look out for each other are among the best, and least expensive, defenses against crime.

Secure your spare. Leave your spare key with a trusted neighbor. Never hide it on the property. Burglars have more experience looking for keys than you do hiding them.

Guard your garage. If you park your car outside of your garage, never leave the garage door opener in the car.

Let there be light. Make sure all outside entrances -- front, back and side -- have good lighting so burglars can't easily hide.

Invest in an alarm. An alarm system controls access points to your home and lets you know if someone has invaded your space.

Holiday crime season has begun

The holidays are a prime time for thieves. Never leave your car unlocked. Always keep your doors, including garage doors locked.

One lady reported her Thanksgiving turkey was stolen from her garage refrigerator. She had left the side door unlocked.

Police advise never to leave items in plain site in your car. If a burglar enters your car and finds your garage door opener remote, he has easy access to your home through the garage.

When shopping do not leave valuables such as gifts, purses, wallets, or electronics in your vehicle where a potential thief can spot them.

Put valuables in the trunk of your car where they are out of sight.

Always lock your vehicle even if you think that you are just going to be away from it for a few minutes; regardless where it is parked. It only takes seconds for a thief to open your door, grab something of value, and walk away as if nothing ever happened.

As Christmas comes near, thieves will be looking for easy targets to enter your home and steal the gifts from under the tree.

During the holidays residential burglars are relying on the fact that Christmas presents are going to be in your homes and most likely under the Christmas tree. These people are opportunistic and will not think twice about pulling into a driveway, ringing your door bell, and then when no one answers kicking in your door and grabbing what they can before leaving.

Poker Garage door Laser Parking Guide for cars and trucks

Garage Parking Guide

Eliminate the risk of damage from trial and error parking attempts. Unit mounts easily to garage ceiling.

Emits a bright red laser beam precisely targeting exactly the pre-selected spot on the vehicle. Activates only when the garage door is fully open.

Also works as an alert to signal when it's safe to back out!

Pegboard Organizer

Crawford 43-Piece Pegboard Organizer #1843B

If using a hammer one minute then utterly losing track of its location the next is a familiar occurrence to you, this pegboard organizer kit may help. This 43-piece kit gives you a variety of hooks that will fit a wide range of screwdrivers, shears, hammers, wrenches, pliers, and so on. The kit also comes with two parts trays and organizer jars for smaller items such as nails, screws, tacks and the like. Pegs in this kit fit both 1/8- and 1/4-inch pegboard, and removable peg locks hold everything in place (note that the pegboard is not included here). With this kit, you'll never again wonder where that hammer went.--Josh Dettweiler

Hawksnest Storage Loft System

The Hawksnest Storage Loft System is an essential product for apartment garages, students or people who move frequently.

This useful storage system creates 24 cubic feet, (7.3 cubic meters) of overhead storage instantly.

Injection molded plastic platform weighs 14 pounds with strength of 1000 PSI. The undercarriage of the platform is designed with numerous channels that provide for strength, as well as storage of the support arms when unassembled.

The unique design of the channels provides a locking device to prevent swing and sway after the unit is installed.

Other features include: Self locking support bars prevent swing and sway. Has a 300 pound level load capacity. Easily adjusts from location to location depending on seasonal storage needs. Durable materials are moisture, termite, and corrosion proof. Shelf acts as a template for positioning "Eye Hooks" (not included) on finished rafters.

The Hawksnest Storage Loft System is simple and fast to re-position, accommodating the most particular of storage needs!

The Hawksnest comes with one platform and four support arms which hook over any rafter and can be installed on 16, 24 or 48 inch centered open rafter systems. If your rafter system is 16 inches or 48 inch centers, the Hawksnest will be installed perpendicular to the direction in which the rafters run. On 24 inch centers, the Hawksnest may be installed parallel or perpendicular. Since the Hawksnest is portable, you may wish to experiment until the desired position.

NOTE: Eyehooks needed for hanging must be purchased seperately.

• Color: Black


• Size: 24" x 48"


• This useful storage system creates 24 cubic feet, (7.3 cubic meters) of overhead storage instantly.


• The Hawksnest Storage Loft System is simple and fast to re-position


• Has a 300 pound level load capacity.

Temporarily out of stock
See Overhead Garage Storage for more storage options

Black Double Garage Screen Door

Let the fresh air in, keep those bugs out! Garage Door Screens, PRICED LOW! Turn your garage into an instant screened porch! These Garage Door Screens install in seconds and give you direct access to the Great Outdoors, without any of the distractions. Leave your entry door open to let in a fresh breeze or keep an eye on the kids outside. Walk in and out with ease thanks to the center-opening and weighted base. An essential piece of gear for your next family reunion, graduation, birthday or other large event. Get yours here for BIG BUCKS OFF the suggested retail! Take back control on your next outdoor party! Order Today! 7 x 14'w. Weighs 2 lbs., 10 ozs. AVAILABLE SEPARATELY: Single Garage Door Screen - word search in our store for 'Garage Door Screen'. Double Garage Door Screen

• Installs in minutes
• 7 Feet x 16 Feet
• Magnetic Closure

Garage Storage - Get Rid of the Clutter

Does your garage seem to collect clutter?

A garage storage system can organize that clutter and give you back your garage space.
You could probably use a workbench. I built mine out of 2X4's and a sheet of plywood. Add shelves below and increase storage capacity.

Overhead storage can be as simple as placing a sheet of plywood over the rafters along the sidewall. If you have a finished ceiling you can place hanging shelves anyplace you have the required headroom.

If there is enough space then wall shelves and cabinets are handy.

Be Ruthless

Move all that clutter into the middle of the floor in three separate piles: everyday must-haves, items for long-term storage and stuff you can give away. Pile the long-term storage items into plastic tubs, give away the donation pile, and place the day-to-day necessities into your new storage system.

Get clearance

During planning, make sure that doors and drawers will be able to open fully in the newly reconfigured area. And leave enough room to walk around comfortably.

Keep the Mess Outside

Use a storage building in the yard to keep the garage neater. Especially for larger items like mowers and bikes.

Make Peace with your Clutter

An efficient garage storage system will give you back your garage for the use it was intended.