Home Security Checklist

If you are like most Canadians, you are concerned about the safety of your home and your community. One particular type of crime that worries Canadians is breaking and entering, or burglary. Below is a checklist to ensure the safety of your home. If you answer “no” to any of the following questions, further action may be required.

 

 

Surroundings
	Yes	No
Does your neighbourhood have a sense of community and pride? Do neighbours look out for and care for one another?
Are the house and the grounds visible from the street and by neighbours?
Is the perimeter of your property marked to discourage trespassers?
Are entranceways illuminated at night? Are the bulbs for these lights protected?

 

 

 

Exterior
	Yes	No
Is shrubbery well-located and maintained, allowing unrestricted views of exterior entrances and windows? Are entrances and windows free of other obstructions?
Are exterior doors and frames sturdily built? Could they withstand being kicked, or otherwise broken down?
Are inner locks inaccessible in the event glass in or near the exterior door is broken?
Is the door hardware (for example, locks, latches, handles, hinges, strike plates) durable and securely installed? Are hinge pins protected or located where they can’t be removed from the outside?
Does the front door have a viewer that lets you see who is at the door before you open it?
Are patio doors “grounded” in their tracks? Is the locking mechanism effective?
Is the garage door kept locked? Are tools and ladders kept where they cannot be accessed by a burglar/thief?
Are basement and ground-floor windows equipped with adequate locks? Are windows of good quality, within solid frames and sashes?
Are second-storey windows that might be reached (for example, from the garage roof, TV tower, ladder or overhanging tree limb) properly secured?
If you were away, would the house still look occupied? If yes, what would make you think so?

 

 

 

Interior
	Yes	No
Are all interior doors leading to the exterior (for example, basement, garage, solarium) routinely locked?
Are valuables marked for identification, insured and securely stored? Are valuable items kept in a bank vault or a security box?
Do you take reasonable security precautions when leaving the house for the day? for a vacation? to go to the corner store?
Do family members and neighbours know what security precautions you have taken? Do they have good security habits so when they may be asked to look after your home, your know your home is secure?
Do you know your neighbours and their phone numbers?
Is the phone number for the local police department clearly posted at every telephone?
Could security be improved by installing a suitable alarm?

 

 

 

 

 

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