Never hide an extra key under a mat, in a flower pot, or in any other easily accessible place. Criminals know all the hiding places. 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. Phone Security Do not give information to strangerson the telephone.
Thieves often target homes using information obtained from telephone surveys .
If you use an answering machine, do not announce your name and number as part of the message. Avoid giving criminals any information about you. A common mistake is revealing your exact whereabouts in a message. Consider keeping a separate line or cellular phone as a security device. Taking one phone off the hook renders other units on that line inoperable.