Six safety tips to keep your home secure

It’s back-to-school season and a good time to review home safety tips.

Kids come and go at all hours and doors need to be secure and walkways well lit.

Here are six safety tips from the National Association of Realtors:

-Make sure all doors to the outside of a home are metal or solid hardwood and have good, sturdy locks.
-Sliding glass doors should be secured with commercially available bars or locks.
-Make sure all windows – especially those at ground level – have good locks, and use them.
-Lighting is important, so be sure all porches and other possible entrances are well illuminated. Motion-sensing lights are an especially good option for outdoor lights.
-Keep any bushes or trees that hide doors or windows trimmed.
-Keep a tight rein on trash. Those homeowners who recently bought big-ticket items, such as a new entertainment system, should not put the empty boxes out by the curb. It can attract the attention of would-be thieves. A better idea is to cut the boxes down and stuff them in trash bags.