Home Invasions are increasing in occurrences at an alarming rate. The thugs are gettng bolder and more violent. They are planning their attacks and realize thieir intended victims will be caught unaware and surprised. Remember, his actions are well planned and he knows you are not expecting what he has planned for you. Suprise is his best weapon.

Police departments are constantly telling people NOT TO open your door to an unannounced delivery or supposed repairman. Yet it seems this caution by the police is being ignored by many people. Let’s take a look at some of the tricks invaders like to use.

GAS LEAK INSPECTION

A person dressed in a hard hat and maybe forged ID tag will come to your door and say they have been called. There is a gas leak in the neighborhood. I need to come in and inspect your home to make sure there isn’t a leak.

In reality, gas companies don’t check for gas leaks in your home unless you’ve called them. Thier duties only are to inspect and repair the gas lines in the ground throughout your area, not in your home. Stop and think about it. If there was a gas leak in your home, believe me, you would smell it. Gas company’s put special ingredients into the gas so you will smell any gas leak.

FLOWER SMALL PACKAGE DELIVERY

Flowers are hard to resist. If someone tries to deliver flowers or a small package don’t let them in. They do not have to come into your house to deliver a small package. You will know about any large package to be delivered and brought into your home. Large deliveries are always planned. If the person is insistant for you to open your door, especially if there is no special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, etc. this should give you cause for concern. Call the police immediately.

ELECTRIC COMPANY REPAIRMAN

There in no reason for an electric company repairman to ask to come into your home. Their responsibility is only to work on the power lines outside of your home. If you had a problem in your home you have called a licensed electrician. Know the electrician you called ans ask for his identifcation when he arrives. If there is a question as to who he really is don’t call the phone number he gives you. Look up the company’s number in the phone book to confirm his identity. All electricians have to be licenced and carry the proper identifcation with them.

ALARM REPAIRMAN

Most pople that have an alarm system have a sign postd in front of thier home. This is a warning to a would be crimanal that you are protected by a security system. Some invaders will se this sign and pose as an alarm repairman. They will tell you thay are here to do preventitve maintence on your system and want to check to make sure it’s operating properly. Don’t believe them. These calls are usually planned ahead of time. Every alarm repairman is required to be licenced by the state he is working in. They ALL have to cary a picture ID an have gone through a security check by his company and state licensing commission. Again, don’t cnfirm his identity by the number he gives you.

Have all emergency numbers posted somewhere in your home with easy access. Have your doctor, alarm company, spouses work numbers, cell phones, gas, water, and electric comapnies number listed.

Most people give the information a person needs to steal their identity without knowing it. Leaving documents around or throwing them in the trash is an example. Here are a few tips to safegaurd your idenity information.

* Buy a shredder. You can purchase one very inexpensively at any discount store. They simply fit over a trash can and will shred paper documents as well as the “old” credit card. First rule of thumb, shred all personal documents. Even those unsolicited credit applications your receive .

* Protect your social security and driver’s license numbers. Don’t give them out to someone you don’t know. Your driver’s license numer can be just as dangerous to give out as your social security number. This number tags you to your identity. That’s why all wotk and credit applications ask for it. If fact, it’s best not to carry your social security card with you. Remit it to memory. Don’t have these printed on your checks.

* Never give out personal information over the phone, internet or mail before you know who you are dealing with.

* Protect any of your passwords. Don’t use an obvious password like your birthday, street address, some numbers of your social security card or mother’s maiden name. If you have forgotten your password, be suspicious of any website you click on to have them email it back to you.

* Remember, even your residence may not be a safe place to keep personal documents. This especially true if you have a roomate, employ outside domestic help, do a lot of entertaining, or work done in your home.

* A lot of links on the internet are “trogan Horses.” Never click on any unsolicited email link. Use only a website address you know. Have a “firewall”, spyware or antivirus software added to your computer. I have all three on my computer. Some antivrus programs, such as AVG, are free and very good. Use a program that always up-dates your software. They can automatically do this daily even at a time you don’t use your computer.
*The government has a great site for additional information. If you need to file a complaint for some type of identity or would like more information, check this site.

My last post was about documenting your valuables. Here is my recommendation as to the best way to do it.

There are several companies that do video taping in your home or business confirming the ownership of your valuables. Needless to say, be careful as to which one you pick. Be sure they are bonded and have a security background check. It wouldn’t even hurt to contact your local police about them.

They may store the results on a Video Tape or C D. Either way, be sure they make two copies of your video recording.

Before you have them to video your valuables get “certified” appraisals of any unique items. Have full descriptions of each to help further identify or confirm the value of the item. Have each item numbered on the video tape or CD to make identifying easier. This will also help to make a more accurate report to your insurance company if you have a loss. Items will not be accidentally omitted if you have consecutive numbers.

Keep two copies. Keep one in your safety deposit box and submit the other to your attorney.

The initial loss after a burglary, fire or natural disaster is usually not the only loss you have. Very few people have their valuables documented and have this verification in a safe place.

Yes, you have insurance. They will only pay you for what you can document that you owned that particular item. If you have a loss you have to fill out a list of all the items you lost. Usually they want this within the 30 days or less after your loss.

Believe me, I’ve been a statistic of a home burglary. We discovered many items months later that were stolen. I racked my brain trying to give a complete list to the insurance company and I still missed all these items.

If you don’t have any records of your valuables it is quite likely you will miss entering several items on your loss list. Weeks or months later after you have “settled” with the insurance company you will look for an item and it’s not to be found. You have settled with the insurance company and this loss can not be recovered. So it is really important to keep accurate records of your valuables.

Document all your possessions. Pictures are a good way of documenting items. Collections, antiques, artwork, securities, bank records, insurance certificates, the list goes on. Keep these records in a safety deposit box so if you do have a fire or natural disaster it will be safe.

Is having a safe a good idea? Most safes I’ve seen are in a location easily found. Not secured to the floor and can be moved. Sure your valuables will protected against fire but, now you have all your valuables in a nice container to be carried off by a burgler.

A few weeks after your home is burglarized your door bell rings. It’s the burgler that ransacked your home earlier. He announces he was the one that burglarized your home and he knows you have a safe and where it is. You have the combination and he demands at gun point for you to open it. Now your whole family is in a bad situation.

There is a company that specializes in “hidden safes”. They have unique ways of hiding their safes so that no would be theif could ever find it. They claim they have never had one of their safes found.

Their website is: hiddensafes.com. Dan Perkins is the owner and will gladly discuss their line of “hidden safes” with with you. I highly recommend this company. I’ve worked with him in the past with always good results.