6 Home security tips for after-school safety

We have a few years before we are comfortable with OLM being home alone as he’s just started kindergarten…woohoo! *ahem* but when I was a kid of maybe ten years old, I was not only at home by myself, (with my two younger sisters) but I was walking home from school by myself.

Times have certainly changed since the days when not only did we feel safe alone at home, we didn’t lock the doors either. Looking back I shudder at the thought. I found out years later that our next door neighbour was Clifford Olson’s brother. If you didn’t know, Clifford Olsen was a serial killer who was responsible for the lives of many young women in and around the lower mainland of BC. And mM mother met him long before we knew who he was.

I’m not here to freak you out. There aren’t serial killers or pedophiles lurking around every corner, but I certainly don’t think we should be taking the safety of our kids lightly. I don’t know about you but I don’t keep my doors unlocked during the day, never mind at night.

If your kids walk home alone have you talked about common sense home security with them?

Did you know that on average, more than 50 percent of home break-ins are through an unlocked door? Keeping your door locked is an easy step you can take, whether you’re inside or outside of the house. With a few other proactive steps, you can add an additional layer of security and comfort for you and your children. ~ Steve Kolobaric, Marketing Manager of Weiser. 

Home security tips to help keep your home safe this September for kids

1. Stay in touch – Ask your children to check in as soon as they arrive home or leave the house.  Staying connected, despite the distance, ensures that you know their whereabouts at all times and they know you’re always just a phone call, email or text message away.
2. Install a keyless door lock – A lockset that doesn’t require a key, which can be easily lost, makes your children’s lives easier. The SmartCode 10 Touchscreen lets you or your children into the house by inputting an easy four to eight digit code, while the Kevo Smart Lock can open the door with a smartphone. If your child doesn’t have a smartphone, you can put a Kevo key fob in his or her backpack, which will allow them to simply touch the keyhole to open the door.
3. Have a routine – When your child comes home, make sure they turn on the lights and make it look like someone is home. Burglars like unoccupied homes so if they see that someone is around they are more likely to move along. It’s also important to talk to your children in advance about what to do when the phone rings or if someone comes to the door. 
4. Lock up items not friendly for kids – Make sure chemicals, cleaners, tools, razor blades and other items not kid-friendly are not left out in the open or get locked away. Consider using a Smartkey Padlock to lock up these dangerous objects, or to keep your valuables safe from unwelcomed home visitors. The padlocks are bump proof and pick resistant, protect against pry and hammer attacks as well as sawing and cutting so when no one is home, the items will remain safely locked up and secure.
5. Keep kids connected – Post a list of important numbers by the telephone, including parents’ work and cell phone, the doctor’s office and a neighbor or a nearby relative who can come over to help your children quickly if they need it.
6. Lock up – Before leaving the house in the morning, make sure all doors and windows, including those on the second floor, are locked. If you have a sliding backdoor, place a rod in the track to keep it securely closed. If you have an alarm system, practice arming and de-arming it with your children. Most burglars are looking for an easy target when the homeowner isn’t home and the best line of defense is simply keeping your home locked up.

To learn more about Weiser, visit www.weiserlock.com, like it on Facebook and follow it on Twitter @weiserlock.

I wasn’t compensated for this post and as usual the opinions are entirely my own.