Advice for keeping your home, family and property safe.

How safe is your home or property? Avon Lake Police Department suggests you to consider these tips to help ensure you do not become a victim of property crime.

• Make sure all trees and shrubs around your home are maintained and pruned to prevent anyone hiding around your property. Also, prevent easy access to upper floors by trimming upper branches away from home and blocking any down pipes or lattices from being climbed.

• Do not leave any ladders or other tools outside. The tools themselves can be stolen or used to gain access to your home or garage.

• If you keep a spare key outside, make sure it is truly concealed.

• Make sure your home is well lit with particular attention to exterior doors.

• Exterior doors at least 1-3/4 inches thick and made from solid wood or reinforced with metal offer better security.

• Exterior doors & any doors leading from garage to home should have deadbolts and reinforced door jams for better security. Make sure you utilize the locks.

• Make sure access to your home cannot be gained by reaching through mail slots or pet doors.

• If doors have glass panels, ensure they are protected against someone breaking through.

• Regularly inspect overhead garage doors for loose, broken, or missing panels and hardware.

• Keep your overhead garage door closed and man door locked.

• Do not leave valuables or keys in your vehicle. Keep your vehicles locked, even when in the garage.

• Inspect your screens and storm windows to ensure they are secure.

• Keep your windows locked. If you have them open make sure that they have reinforced locking devices that can be secured in the open position.

• Basement windows should be glass block or protected by grates or other security devices.

• High value and/or irreplaceable items should be kept in a hidden high quality, fire resistant safe or in an off site safety deposit box.

• Maintain a photo/video log of valuables for identification or insurance purposes.

• All firearms should be kept secured and apart from ammunition. Avon Lake Police Department has gun locks available for residents.

• Do not post on social media when you are out of town and ask friends & family members to do the same.

• If you have concerns about the security of your home, please contact us and ask for an officer to survey your property.

We also ask residents to be alert and report any suspicious individuals or behavior to the police immediately. Do not risk your personal safety by attempting to confront a suspicious individual. If in doubt, call 9-1-1. If you have any questions, please call the Avon Lake Police Department at 440-933-4567.