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You probably don't like to think about crime, but no matter where you live, your income or your lifestyle, crime is a fact of life. That doesn't mean you have to be defenseless. Put the following crime prevention tips into action along with the monitored Scripps Ranch Security system to help deter crime and make your family and home more secure. Lighten up Leave your outside lights on at night. If your neighborhood is dimly lit, ask your municipal authorities to add streetlights or replace existing bulbs with higher watt bulbs. Leave one or two lamps on inside your house when you're not at home. Lock up Reliable dead-bolt door locks and sturdy window latches help prevent break-ins. Trim the hedges Tall hedges provide hiding places for potential burglars. Keep yours trimmed so that they're no higher than your windowsills. Install peepholes Peepholes with magnifying lenses let you see who's at your door – without opening it. No notes Never leave notes on your door, even when you're at home. Make your mark Permanently mark your valuables to make it easier for the police to return them to you if they are stolen. Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers with a state abbreviation work best. Keep a record of marked objects. Make noise Tune the stereo or TV to your favorite station when you leave the house. To a burglar it means that someone's home. Don't provide access Close and lock garage doors to protect valuables stored there and to prevent access to your house. Park in the driveway Park an additional car in your driveway or ask a neighbor to park there. It gives the appearance that someone's always home and prevents burglars from backing a van into the drive for easy loading. Be careful with spare keys If you leave a spare key outside, be creative. Burglars routinely check under flowerpots and welcome mats and on window ledges. Have your home watched while you're away Ask a neighbor to collect newspapers and mail when you're away. If you'll be gone for an extended period, hire someone to take care of your lawn or even to housesit.   Get involved Team up with your neighbors and form a crime watch program. Your local police can help you get started.

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An important part of fire safety is prevention. Did you know Scripps Ranch Security installs and monitors smoke/heat detectors that can alert you and the fire department if there is a fire in your home? Follow these fire safety tips for home fire safety.1 • Never paint or decorate a smoke alarm, because this could keep it from working properly. • Create a home fire escape plan for your family. Try to identify two ways out of each room (one way out might be the window, the other could be the door). • Install fire extinguishers close to an exit. • Keep the stove clear of anything that could catch on fire: paper, towels, curtains, pot-holders or food packages. • Matches and lighters should always be kept out of sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cabinet. • Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Consider plugging only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time. • Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn, and use bulbs that match the lamp's recommended wattage. • Turn the clothes dryer off when leaving the home. • Any fuel or liquid that can catch on fire, like gasoline or kerosene, needs to be kept in a safe container, outside the home in a garage or shed. • Most important of all: practice your home escape plan twice a year. You never know when you'll have to use it!

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Follow these child safety rules from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to help keep your children safe2: • Make sure you know where each of your children is at all times. • Never leave children unattended in an automobile, whether it is running or not. • Be involved in your children’s activities. • Notice when someone shows one or all of your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts. • Teach your children that they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or actions by others. • Be sure to screen babysitters and caregivers through a state public registry, check references, and ask your children how the experience with a caregiver was. • Practice basic safety skills with your children. • Remember that there is no substitute for your attention and supervision.