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LIFESTYLES HOME & GARDEN. LIFESTYLES

15 - Friday, February 3, 1989 — North Shore News

How secure is your home?

IF YOUR idea of a good home se-
curity system is a broom handle
inserted in a sliding glass door
track, a burglar is liable to sweep
your valuables right out from
underneath your feet.

The broom handle has become
Canada’s standard security system
and, although it may have worked
once, it no longer is enough.

Homeowrers today must take
precautions in establishing effec-
tive security protection in and
around the home. The key is to
make your house key the oniy way
to enter your home.

To prevent burglars from doing
their job, take seriously the securi-
ty of your house. The following
quiz prepared by Honcywell’s Pro-
tection Services Division will help
you determine whether your home
is safe.

1. Is your house fairly isolated, far
from neighbors, or hidden by

Condos
discussed
in course

THE NORTH Shore Neighbour-
hood House is co-sponsoring a
course with the Public Legal
Education Society on purchasing a
condominium.

also examines the legislation gov-
eming condominiums, strata title,
regulations, responsibilities of
owners and council tips on pur-
chasing strata property.

course is being offered
Monty: Feb. 20, from 7:30 to
9:30 p.m. There is no charge;
however, participants are asked to
pre-register by phone.

For more information phone
987-8138 or drop in to the Nort
Shore Neighbourhood House at
225 East 2nd Street, North Van-

¢ ign kg 24,

LONSDALE

AND BLINDS

Square
1425 aarine ne Dre WY. 922-1709

As |

bushes and not easily visible to
neighbors?

A. Yes — neighbors cannot see
‘ay home cz hear noises.

B. House is hidden from view by
fences, trees, shrubbery, etc., but
is close enough to neighbors for
them to hear a disturbance.

C. No — neighbors can see my
home clearly and are within ear-
shot.

2. Does your home have exterior
lighting?

A. No lighting.

B. Some lighting.

C. Lighting front, back and
garage area.

3. Do you leave an inside light on
while away from home?

A. No.

B. Yes.

4. Do you have an attached
garage?

A. Yes.

B. No,

5. Are you aware of burglaries or
incidents of vandalism in your
neighborhood?

A. Yes, frequently.

B. A few.

Cc. No.

6. What are your doors made of?

A. Wooden, hollow or
lightweight.

B. Wooden, solid or heavy.

C. Metal.

7. Do any of your doors have win-

dows in them?

A. Yes.

B. Front door has adjacent win-
dow.

C. No, none.
8. What kinds of locks do you
have on your doors?

A. Spring locks (simple lock in
the knob).

B. Deadbolt.
9. How many locks do you have
on your windows?

A. One, standard.

B. Two on each window.
10. Have you ever left keys outside
your home?

A. Yes, in a hiding place.

B. Left with a neighbor, friend
or household help.

Cc. No.
11, Do you ever leave your doors
or windows open when running an
errand, working in the yard or
sleeping?

A. Yes.

B. Sometimes.

C. Never.
12. When away from home for ex-
tended periods of time, do you ar-
range to have a trusted neighbor
look after your home and pick up
mail and newspapers?

Ni

ANSWERS

privacy with an open invitation to
burglars. Shrubbery near doors
and windows is a perfect hiding
place for burglars.

If your house is isolated and not
visible to neighbors, take special
precautions.

Keep shrubs well trimmed, and
make sure your doors and win-
dows are secure.

Use lights, good locks, strong
doors and, best of all, an elec-
tronic home security system
monitored by a security company.

2. A well-lit home is one of the
best ways to protect your home.
Lights won’t keep thieves out, but
they will make it easier for
neighbors to spot a prowler.

3. Many people arrange for a
neighbor to check their home and
turn lights on or off while they’re
away for any length of time. Even
better, some security systems can
turn selected lights on and off
automatically so it always looks
like someone’s home.

4. Unattached garages are safer
than attached garages. They don’t
provide a sheltered access to the
main house for a burglar. But the
door between your attached garage
and your home can be protected
with a home security system.

5. The safest neighborhoods, of
course, are those that never have
home invasions. 3ut even in these

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havens, there's no guarantee
they’ll be crime-free forever. Don’t
wait until crime hits your
neighborhood before taking any
precautions.

6. Metal doors are best, but
heavy, solid wooden doors are still
good. If you have light, hollow
wooden doors on any outside
doors, it would be a good idea to
replace them.

7. Windows and doors are
anything but a safe combination.
They can give burglars clues to
whether or not you’re home. And

Sea Ensure
Page 16

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