The Kwikset SmartSquad and SafetyChick.com

I am a proud to be a new member of the Kwikset-sponsored SmartSquad! I will be providing quarterly content on various aspects of home security…for my first contribution I thought I would start with a simple and basic product that is the foundation of Home Security, but is most often ignored or overlooked. Can you guess what it is? No, not a monitored alarm system, no not motion sensor lights, no, not a German Shepard…while all of those are great security solutions, the most basic is…a Solid Deadbolt and simply, LOCKING YOUR DOORS!

I cannot tell you how many stories I hear of homes getting burglarized, or a homeowner being surprised by an unwanted intruder simply because they did not lock their doors. I do not care if you live in a “safe neighborhood”…crime knows no boundaries and it is just a matter of time before your house is the one that is targeted. Criminals cruise “safe neighborhoods” for that very reason. They know that people that live in rural or quiet neighborhoods have that false sense of security and don’t lock their doors.

I did a segment for America’s Most Wanted a few years ago to highlight this very problem. A friend of one of our producers kept one of her doors partially open with a chain lock so her cat could go in and out while she was at work during the day. I was able to get through her side gate, into a courtyard which exposed a partially opened glass door that led straight into her bedroom! I was able to reach in with one hand and undo the chain lock. In less than 30 seconds I was bouncing on her bed! Needless to say, when she returned home, she was quite shocked to find the Safety Chick waiting for her to give a Home Safety Makeover and show her the importance of investing in a Cat Door and good solid locks!

I am a big fan of Electronic Deadbolts-this is a keyless entry system that makes life a lot easier getting in and out of the house-no fumbling with keys at night, simply press a few buttons and you’re in. Kwikset has some great products in this category…check out controllable keyless entry deadbolt with SmartCode™ Signature Series. With your own personal code, you can enter your home with just a few simple pushes of a button and lock it with just one. You also get more control over who has access to your home. Just assign a temporary code to whoever needs one and delete it when you see fit. You can totally eliminate the need for keys. SmartCode is easy to install, program and use and operates on 4 AA batteries. SmartCode complements any Kwikset knob, lever or handle set. Now, you have NO excuse not to lock your doors…and be sure to have “Fluffy” use the Cat Door.

Check out the SmartCode deadbolts from Kwikset!
http://www.kwikset.com/Products/Styles/SmartCode-Deadbolts.aspx

Disclosure: I am a member of the Kwikset-sponsored SmartSquad and and occasionally receive incentives to discuss issues related to home safety and security.