Keep trees and shrubbery around your home well trimmed. Overgrown bushes and trees often provide excellent hiding places for criminals. Bushes that feature thorns or stiff, spiky leaves are not good hiding places for criminals. When moving into a house or apartment, always change or re-key the locks or have the tumblers reset. Never hide an extra key under a mat, in a flowerpot, or in any other easily accessible place.
Criminals know all the hiding places.
Phone Security 12. Lock your doors when working in your yard, attic, laundry room, or any place away from your home's entry areas. While you are busy elsewhere, burglars could easily enter your home unnoticed. Do not give information to strangers on the telephone. If you use an answering machine, do not announce your name and number as part of the message.