Daytime Home Security While You're Inside

Locking your doors is not just a nighttime habit — it must apply during the day when you are home and distracted. Many home invasions occur in daylight hours precisely because occupants feel a false sense of security while watching television, sleeping, or working inside. A criminal who can enter through an unlocked front or back door while you are engaged does not need to force entry, making the act quieter, faster, and more dangerous because you may not realize what is happening until it is too late. Elderly residents living alone are especially vulnerable to this tactic, as they are less likely to physically confront an intruder and may take longer to react or call for help.

Steps to follow:

• Lock all exterior doors — including the back door and any side entrances — even when you are home and awake.
• Engage the deadbolt, not just the door handle latch, which can often be pushed open.
• If you have a grille or security door at the front, keep it locked even when the main door is open for ventilation.
• Elderly family members who live alone should have a door alarm or bell that alerts them if any door opens unexpectedly.
• If you hear an unfamiliar sound inside the house, do not investigate alone — call for help or alert a neighbor immediately.