Your home is meant to be a safe place where you and your family can live happily and healthily. An intrusion can steal away that feeling of safety and have a lasting negative impact. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to increase your homes security and reduce the likelihood of a break-in.
Here are three effective home security tips and guidelines you probably never thought of:
While it pays to have high-tech security measures installed throughout the home, such as an alarm or cameras, some of the most effective methods are the least technical. In addition to using sensors and alarms, consider adding blocks or rods to prevent them from sliding open from the outside.
By securing your windows, you reduce the incidents of crimes of opportunity, especially with windows on the ground floor. Adding a simple dowel rod can prevent the window from sliding open, even if a potential intruder manages to unlock it.
While a traditional dowel rod works wonders, you can also get adjustable implements that allow you to fit the lock to different sized doors and windows. This solution is ideal for both vertical and horizontal sliding windows, as well as sliding doors. Furthermore, as these are easy to remove from the inside, they dont present a safety risk in the event of a fire.
Optimizing your home security starts outdoors. Things like motion sensor lights and yard lights that eliminate dark corners make a huge impact when preventing intruders. As break and enters tend to be a crime of opportunity, eliminating that opportunity is key.
Believe it or not, you can improve your home security with some savvy landscaping hacks. One of the most effective ways to deter criminals from breaking into your home is to plant well-kept thorny bushes under your windows. Things like roses or juniper tend to pack a nasty surprise if someone tries to climb through a window.
When landscaping, use gravel and loose stone whenever possible, as these tend to be noisy and hard to navigate while sneaking around. Avoid trees that could be used to access second-floor windows or balconies, as well as trees that block the view of the house from the road.
Most people follow a pretty standard set-up when installing security features in the home. For example, many people install the keypad next to the front or back door. From a logistical standpoint, this makes sense; its convenient for when you enter and leave the house. However, its also convenient for intruders who want to find and disable said alarm.
Place your keypads away from doors or windows where your activity could be viewed. Consider putting it further down a hallway or in the kitchen. Its also worth having another keypad in the master bedroom so that if a situation arises in the middle of the night, you can trigger the alarm.
The same theory applies when hiding your valuables. As the master bedroom tends to be the first place burglars look for valuables, place them elsewhere. Some great hiding places include in potted plants, in canisters in the pantry, or in false bottomed books and clocks.
Conversely, avoid commonly searched areas like the freezer and bathroom. If you use a safe for your belongings, invest in one thats installed into the wall or bolted down. While you should never use a portable safe for valuables, its a perfect decoy burglars are likely to grab it and go, thinking that theyve found something valuable.
The average burglary takes place in under 15 minutes from start to finish. The more complicated you can make the process, the safer your home will be.
By trying these three unusual tips, youll protect your home, belongings, and most importantly, your family.
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3 Home Security Tips and Guidelines You Never Thought Of - TechSpective
WATERTOWN Developer Michael E. Lundy has come up with a way to resolve the controversy of Watertown Golf Club members parking on city-owned land in Thompson Park.
Hes proposing an overflow parking lot that would not encroach on city parkland by creating it on his property and specifically for club members to use, said Michael A. Lumbis, the citys planning and community development director.
Mr. Lundy submitted conceptual plans to the citys Planning Department for the improvements he plans to complete at the golf course at Thompson Park.
He will make a presentation on Tuesday to get some feedback prior to his formal site plan application, Mr. Lumbis said.
If the presentation goes well, Mr. Lundy will come back at a future meeting with detailed plans to go through the site plan approval process.
According to his sketch plan, Mr. Lundy proposes a 50-space parking lot that would be near the clubhouse and along West Entrance Drive.
In a Jan. 22 letter to Mr. Lumbis, Mr. Lundy wrote about his intentions for the golf club.
He would develop just a part of the existing overflow parking lot thats on the golf course property but does not encroach on city parkland.
For months, the overflow parking area was the subject of debate between council members, while they also faced the threat of legal action from Mr. Lundy and P.J. Simao, the owner of competitor Ives Hill Country Club.
Theres no mention of the overflow parking lot on the plans or in his letter, Mr. Lumbis said.
Creating a bigger controversy, council members put up a public parking sign in June that allowed the public and club members to park there and then reversed their decision and ordered it removed a few months later.
Under these plans, Mr. Lundy indicated in his letter that he might not build a new clubhouse as he told city officials in the past. An aluminum event tent, anchored to the rock subbase with an Astro turf-type floor, that he used last golf season would remain at the same location.
According to the plans, hell remedy a series of encroachments that the city had been criticized for allowing.
He would install a leachate field instead of connecting into the citys sewer system on city property. The sewer hookup would be completed if he redoes the clubhouse.
With the current political atmosphere with the city, we have decided against tying into the city sewer, Mr. Lundy wrote.
A septic tank would be completed upon the citys review.
A building to store golf carts would be located over the pad of the original pro shop.
Plans also call for a building for an outdoor bar, restrooms and storage, and another structure at the first tee to greet golfers before they begin to play.
The citys Planning Board meets at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the third floor council chambers of City Hall, 245 Washington St.
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Lundy to present new plans for Thompson Park golf club - NNY360
RMC safety grade improves
The Regional Medical Center improved in the area patient safety, according to fall 2019 survey by a national hospital safety watchdog group.
The Leapfrog Group gave RMC a "D" in its fall 2019 survey of hospital safety across the nation. This is up from an F the hospital received in the fall of 2018.
The 2019 fall results showed the hospital performed below average in 17 out of 28 patient safety measures and above average in 11 safety measures.
This is improved from the 23 out of 28 below-average score the hospital received last year.
RMC also received an award from the S.C. Hospital Association for achieving 30 months with zero knee replacement surgical site infections and 48 months with zero central line-associated bloodstream infections in the Intensive Care Unit.
Law firm donates 250 turkeys
For the sixth consecutive year, the law firm of Lanier & Burroughs donated turkeys to those in Orangeburg who may needed a little help for Thanksgiving dinner.
Local families, churches and non-profit organizations gathered in the parking lot of the firm's office on St. Matthews Road to receive 250 frozen turkeys.
Attorney Lewis Lanier noted, Its all worth it when you see people that might need a little help to give it to them, if you can.
Attorney Shane Burroughs said, We are thankful for the continued opportunity to represent and help the people of Orangeburg, and for our ability to give back this holiday season.
Orangeburg YMCA pools, more renovated
The pools and several other areas around the Orangeburg County YMCA were renovated.
The renovations included the resurfacing of the competition pool, therapy pool and the natatorium ceiling, walls and doors.
A new dehumidification system and new rooftop HVAC systems will be installed. The facilitys sprinkler system will also be updated.
The renovations and maintenance were scheduled to be completed Jan. 31.
Sewer grant extends service to Edisto High
Orangeburg County received a $1.4 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and a $1.5 million USDA grant to extend sewer lines in the Orangeburg County-West Edisto Sewer System.
The project will extend sewer to Edisto High School and will mean between 80 and 100 residential customers will be able to tap into public wastewater if they so choose. Currently, the homes are on septic systems.
The county hopes to put the project out to bid in the spring of 2020 and complete it in the spring of 2021.
SCSU cyber defense recognized
South Carolina State University was designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
S.C. State says it is the first and only historically black institution in South Carolina to receive this designation.
The designation is for the university's bachelors degree in computer science with cybersecurity program and is valid through the year 2024.
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Bamberg County dedicates 3 new fire trucks
Bamberg County Fire Services dedicated the district's new trucks.
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development provided grants and loaned the funding for the trucks, which replaced the old, unreliable equipment in Ehrhardt, Olar and Little Swamp fire substations.
Orangeburg barber school makes move to new building
Barber Tech Academy, a post-secondary master barber school located at 1650 Russell Street, celebrated its grand opening at its new location Nov. 7.
The school is located in the former Rhoad's Cleaners building across the street from the former Piggly Wiggly.
Barber Tech expanded its services into the 4,200-square-foot building in an effort to educate more students with a larger number of amenities.
The school had been located at 1521 Russell St. at the former U.S. Army recruitment office.
Grant to preserve Trinity UMC legacy
Trinity United Methodist Church received $500,000 tohelp preserve its historical structures that played a significant role during the civil rights movement.
The Historic Preservation Fund grants were provided by the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.
The grant will be used to restore and refurbish the windows in the sanctuary of the church, and address water intrusion problems with the churchs exterior walls, Lott stated.
Tisdale honored for service to alma mater
Claflin University honored its long-serving former president by naming a building after him: the Henry N. Tisdale Molecular Science Research Center.
The building was chosen to honor Tisdale due to his background in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.
The center was constructed in 2010. It houses the Chemistry Department and a forensics science lab.
Downtown building being renovated
The three-story brick building at the corner of Amelia and Middleton streets is being renovated for potential use as office space.
The building is owned by Orangeburg Realtor Kenneth Middleton.
Middleton wants to expand his offices into the 1,350-square-foot building.
Restoration work began in late September and early October. Estimates are that it will take between three to four months for the project to be complete.
League of the Arts seeks to restore historic home
The Orangeburg League of the Arts is looking to restore the former Dukes-Harley Funeral Home on Russell Street.
The league would like to see it used for a variety of things, including an art and antique gallery, frame shop, a wedding chapel, dance studio, place for art instruction classes and event venue.
Full restoration efforts began Oct. 21
The building was destroyed by a fire about two years ago.
The group was given the building in April 2016. Since then, a new roof has been placed on it and the building has been cleaned out.
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NOVEMBER 2019 PROGRESSIONS: RMC safety grade improves | Special Sections - The Times and Democrat