In addition to buying the proper hardware to ensure the safety and security of your home and family, it’s also very important (and inexpensive!) to take some simple precautions. Here are some tips that will help deter burglars from breaking into your house. Those of you who are leaving for your Summer vacation will want to check them out. You’ll also find some innovative lock suggestions after the tips:

* Going on a trip? Leave a car parked in the driveway as it gives the appearance that someone is always home.

* Going away for summer vacation? Don’t use your home address on your luggage tags. Instead, use your office address or a cell phone number.

* Work late? If so, get into the habit of having your house key ready so you won’t fumble with them at the door. A keyless entry is also an option.

* Is your home well lit? An intruder’s greatest fear is being seen. Good exterior lighting around your perimeter creates a psychological barrier.

* Got deadbolts? Most burglaries are the result of forced entry. Make sure all exterior doors have deadbolts with at least a 1” throwbolt.

There are a lot more tips so read on!

* Lock your doors 24/7. 50 percent of all break-ins are through unlocked doors believe it or not!

* Valet your car? If so, don’t keep your home address on anything found within your car. Furthermore, only give out your car ignition key.

* Going out of town? Give your neighbour a house key so they can check in. The keyless lock would be useful in this instance as you can provide your neighbour with a temporary code.

* Help the police help you! Make sure you keep your street address visible. If affixing numbers to you house, they should be at least four inches high, reflective and visible from the street.

* Park your car outside? Always lock your car and consider taking your garage door opener with you instead of leaving it in the vehicle.

* Been at the same house for a while? Replace your outside locks as you’ve probably given out your house key a lot through the years.

* Got a hectic schedule? Keep it to yourself. Don’t leave any specific information on your answering machine other than a cell phone number.

* Backyard secure? Consider installing a fence and plant fast-growing bushes as extra barrier around the exterior of your home.

* Band together! Start a neighbourhood watch program – it’s the most effective method of keeping your home safe.

* Keep an extra key outside your house? Stop! Burglars know all the hiding spots. Instead, leave a key with a trusted neighbor

If you’re looking into buying a new deadbolt, you may want to consider a Weiser Lock. I’ve shopped extensively for locks and to be honest, these locks don’t have much in the way of competition. They always do extremely well in lock picking tests and have a well established history in the manufacture of door hardware products.

You may already be familiar with their keyless Powerbolt system, which has been available for some ten years now. These are the locks that have a reprogrammable keypad for those that have a very busy and active lifestyle (or for those that perpetually lose their keys).

Fingerprinting has also become quite popular so they developed the SmartScan, which does just that to unlock your door. For those that don’t feel fully confident about a battery-run lock, they can all still be opened with the traditional key. The whole point though, is that you don’t actually have to carry one.

Their newest product is the SmartKey for those that still like to use a key to open your locks. This system employs a new technology which allows the key cylinder to be rekeyed in seconds. If you lose or have your keys stolen, this means you don’t have to change your actual lock; just replace the key and rekey your lock. Crazy right? I scratched my head when I first read about this but it’s actually simpler than you think. The lock comes with a special smart key tool (there’s a tiny thin hole on the lock for it). What you do is insert the key that you want changed, turn it half way to the right and leave it there, insert and remove the smart key tool, then take out the first key without turning it back. Finally insert the new key that you want to program and turn it back to remove the new key that now works on the lock. If you need to give neighbours, trades people or cleaning services temporary access to your home, this will give you additional peace of mind. A bonus with these locks is that they cannot be “bumped,” which is an extremely effective lock picking technique used by thieves to open traditional pin tumbler locks using a custom bump key that opens all locks of the same type. I’ve seen this being done by a locksmith and boy is it ever scary how easy it is to unlock a door!

You can find these locks at Home Depot. I just came back from one and found out the prices. Please note that they’re all prices before tax and they are for the actual lock only. They don’t come with the handle because it’s assumed that you already have one and don’t need to spend more money than necessary:

Powerbolt: They’re either $119.00 (for chrome or brass) or $123.00 (for bronze or nickel)

SmartScan: There is only one colour available where I went (black) and it’s $209.00

SmartKey: Depending on what finish you want (brass, rustic black, bronze, nickel, pewter), the prices range from $41.99 to $44.97