More than 25 years ago, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)—and McGruff the Crime Dog—designated October Crime Prevention Month. The month-long commemoration reflects the adage that prevention pays off. NCPC strongly believes that everyone can do something to prevent crime, from helping police identify crime problems to starting a Neighborhood Watch program or taking commonsense steps to protect their homes and property.

Crime Prevention month is a good time to evaluate the safety and security of our homes and our families—something that everyone can do to help prevent crime. We’ve all worried about the security of our homes at one time or another…Could an intruder possibly get in? Would your family ever be a victim of burglary or home invasion?

The truth is that most burglars get into homes the same way anyone does—through windows or doors. So taking several commonsense precautions can help keep our homes, and families, safer. For instance, keep windows and doors locked at all times. Don’t have shrubs in front of windows and doors, as they can shield would-be intruders.

Some people may need to take more drastic steps as well. If windows and doors are old, don’t operate or lock properly, or are easy to bypass even when they are locked, maybe it’s time to replace those windows and doors with newer, more secure models. Perhaps even consider laminated glass products that make it virtually impossible for anyone to get through.

For more window and doors security tips, visit http://www.gorell.com/pages/gorell_mcgruff.htm.