Nobody is safe these days. I don’t want to sound pessimistic. This is just to caution you to keep your home safe from burglars. I don’t want you to experience what my family went through in 2005. If not for the quick-responding Barangay Tanod (watchmen) in our neighborhood the three unidentified robbers could have robbed our home. The burglars have successfully taken out a portion of the broken glass pane in the living/kitchen area. They got hold of the scanner and were trying to take it out from the window, but roving watchmen shouted at them. The robbers scampered away empty-handed.

Even if the robbery was foiled we still keep an eye on suspicious-looking person in our area. And just to be safe, we have changed the transparent window panel to opaque glass so no one can see the activity from inside.

Here are the following safety tips at home. This information was disseminated by our Barangay officials last year.

When inside your home:

• Keep all doors and windows locked, even if you are just going out “for a minute”.
• Install dead-bolt locks on all doors.
• Don’t give maids, babysitters, or other working in your home access to your home keys or alarm codes.
• Re-key or change all locks when moving into a new home.
• List only your last name and initials on your mailbox or in a phone directory.
• Don’t give your name, phone number or whereabouts on your answering machine message. Never say you aren’t home. Just ask the caller to leave a message.
• Consider installing home security systems that provide monitoring for burglary, fire, and medical emergencies.
• Leave outside lights on after dark or have outside lights controlled by motion detector.
• Keep drapes or blinds partially open during the day.
• Never dress in front of windows. Always close the drapes or blinds.
• Know your neighbors and keep their phone numbers handy.
• Have a friend or neighbor check on you daily if you are home alone.
• Try never to be alone in the laundry room or any other common area in an apartment building.
• Call the police on 117 if you hear or see something suspicious.
• Don’t take direct action yourself. An officer will be dispatched to your address even if you cannot speak or hang up.

(This is a partial list of safety at home tips. I will share the remaining tips next time.)