| If you're not pre-occupied with the many issues of | | | | ornaments to some other places in my yard. Burglars |
| home security, chances are you're probably not a | | | | look for hiding places, and things like hedges, bushes, |
| new dad like I am. I find myself thinking about all the | | | | shrubs, birdbaths, and swing sets can offer great |
| things I need to consider, and take care of, and fix, | | | | cover if not properly taken care of. I spent the |
| and trim, and get rid of so my home will be safer for | | | | better part of a weekend getting my yard to a point |
| my newborn. What was happening, however, was | | | | that it not only looked great, but left me feeling like |
| that I was spending more time thinking about what | | | | I'd accomplished my goal. |
| needed to be done, and less time actually doing | | | | I installed a two-floodlight system in my yard, which |
| them. The problem? I was simply overwhelmed and | | | | is triggered when motion is detected. Two very |
| didn't know where to start. Thankfully, I realized this | | | | bright floodlights now light up my backyard, removing |
| and started to write each thing down as I thought it, | | | | virtually any possible hiding place. The last thing a |
| and then started to categorize my list. | | | | would-be burglar wants is to suddenly be illuminated in |
| I had outside things, and indoor items; fire detection | | | | the act of sneaking on to someone's property. This |
| and burglary prevention. Before too long I actually | | | | was simply and inexpensive and I'm happy to have it |
| had a comprehensive list of things I needed to | | | | crossed off my list. |
| accomplish, so I prioritized them and started checking | | | | Finally, I had a home security system professionally |
| them off my list. | | | | installed and subscribed to home security monitoring. I |
| I started with some easy things that I had deemed | | | | felt like this was a no brainer and mandatory for the |
| important. Mainly, new locks on all my doors and | | | | overall protection of my new child. I paid particular |
| windows with very tight control over the distribution | | | | attention to having the windows secured with |
| of the keys. I installed very strong deadbolt locks on | | | | window sensors. They not only notify me if a |
| all my exterior doors, and made sure each window | | | | window has been opened, but also if one has been |
| was equipped with sash locks and a rod or dowel | | | | shattered. Instant notification of an intruder is the |
| inserted into the track to prevent each window from | | | | key to any home security system. |
| being slid open from the outside. The only spare keys | | | | Do everything you can to secure your home and |
| to the deadbolts are in safekeeping with a trusted | | | | property. Make a list if you have to and just start |
| neighbor. This is a solution that works very well for | | | | knocking things off one at a time. A monitored home |
| us. | | | | security system can make your home a fortress that |
| Next, I tackled some yard work. I'd been meaning to | | | | will have burglars looking for an easier target. |
| trim some hedges as well as to move some yard | | | | |