Your home is your castle! Personal security at home means more than just taking steps to keep your house safe from break-ins.

About 1 in every 34 households was burglarized in 2003!

There's a tremendous feeling of personal violation and loss of security when someone breaks into your home.  The truth is, most burglars go into homes because they've been invited. 

That's right -- homeowners regularly invite burglars to come right on in!  How?  By unconsciously giving them opportunity.

Here are some of the ways homeowners do that:

Many burglars I've arrested told me they usually spend less than a minute sizing up a potential target before deciding whether to break in or move on.  Use the tips at the right to stop crooks in their tracks.  If they know you've taken steps to protect yourself, they'll go elsewhere!

Crime can also enter through the front door.  Home invasion robbery takes the term "robbery" to the extreme.  Often, home invaders approach the house in a way that's not likely to draw attention, pretending to be delivery persons, utility company workers, people in need of help, even police officers.

In 2003, 3.5 million households suffered a violent victimization!

Always know who's at your door before opening it!  Get a wide-angle door viewer -- the bigger the better!  I like the one pictured below. Installed in your front door, you can see who's knocking almost from across the room.