Crime is one of the biggest concerns in the Philippines. While it has been reported that the crime rate in the National Capital Region has decreased by 6% in 2019, we are still looking at a staggering 48,182 crimes committed last year. This number is according to the Philippine News Agency.
So, dear readers, it still pays to be careful whether you are walking the streets of the Metro, or driving your car, while strolling in the park, or while having lunch outside the office. You really would not know who is right beside you or right behind you. The only place you can probably put your guard down is your home; or is it?
The truth is, we will never be sure. We should remain vigilant even while at home. The good news is that you can control what is happening in your house and in the surrounding perimeter. It is easy to do as long as you know how. In this article, let us see how you can protect yourself and your family inside your own abode.
- Remember to keep your doors and windows locked.
This seems to be common sense, only it is not. Many people tend to forget to do this, especially during the daytime. Most of them even think it is safer when the sun is still out and about. Unfortunately, a lot of these burglars go out during daylight hours; they look for houses they can easily enter. They try to get in either through the front door, or the first-floor window, so lock, lock, and then lock even when you are at home.
2. Do not just hide your keys anywhere.
I know most of you out there like to hide your keys under the rug, or inside the flower vase, or behind the jar. Yes, it might be convenient, but it is as predictable as using your birth date as the Personal Identification Code of your ATM card. It is better to just bring your own keys, or ask your friendly neighbor to keep it for you while you are away at work or school.
3. Never expose your valuables.
Keep your laptops, television sets, jewelries, and other valuables out of sight. If you can invest in a safe then much better. This would at least decrease your chances of being spotted by people with bad intentions.
4. Put a “Beware of Dog” sign, even if you do not have a dog.
It’s great if you have a dog; burglars do not want to be attacked by a pit bull. But even if you do not have one, it would be a good idea to put up a “Beware of Dog” sign. This will give you a bit of an advantage with that little psywar against the enemy.
5. Use a home security system.
Using a home security system may be one of the smartest investments you will ever have. This will definitely give you peace of mind. In the Philippines, one of the newest companies that I have just found out is the Home Defense Technology, and I was blown by it, I should say. What I do know is that they provide a monitored home security system. Call me naive, but I did not know such services exist.
There you go! Safety should always be a top priority as it could mean life or death. Stay safe everyone.
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