Domestic Violence and Home Security

After you leave your domestic violence situation, home security inside and outside is your top priority.

As we get started, did you get a restraining order? Please get it if needed as soon as the county court house opens... you don't have to have a police report to get a restraining order.

being away from your domestic violence situation, doesn't mean that you are any safer. In fact, you may be more at risk than ever. Be ready to revert back to Safety Plan A - Get Out Now. You can always return to your home at a later/safer time.

If your abuser decides that if they can't have you - no one can, you will need to keep your abuser away from you until the police arrive. Here are some tips to create layers of home security between you and a domestic violence situation.

Change all the locks on the outside doors. Outside doors should be solid wood, or metal.

Do not rely on those chains to keep someone out. You and I could get past one if it was keeping us from our kids.

A peep hole positioned where everyone can access it is highly recommended.

If you have a locksmith, or friend change your locks, have them install a deadbolt across from each hinge on your outside doors to reinforce them. The deadbolt must go into the wood framing around the door.

Make sure you secure your inside garage door as well as you secure your front door. If your abuser gets into your garage, the inside garage door will be the only thing protecting you.

Change the security code in your garage door opener, or unplug the main component so that it can't be electronically operated. Park in the garage if possible, lock your vehicle and keep your garage door opener with you.

Secure all of your windows with 1" X 1" X 6' pieces of wood. You can buy several long pieces of wood and then cut them to the correct size for your window. Make sure the wood fits snug. Measure the inside of your window sill, from the window pane to the window frame and then measure your wood before cutting. In the future you can look into track locks, or track stops.

Make sure you verify that your windows were installed correctly. The movable pane of the window should be on the inside of the house. If your windows are extra vulnerable, you can put a safety coat on them with an adhesive plastic sheeting to keep intruders/your abuser out.

As it starts to get dark make sure you close your blinds, or heavy drapes. I highly recommend more window coverings than the sheer curtains. The goal is to keep people on the outside from knowing what you are doing, and where you are inside.

Pay the small monthly fee for a professional security system and have it monitored. Your life and the lives of your children are worth it!! Make sure you have it on while you are home and away. When the system is installed, make sure it is attached to the door frames and each of the window panes for the sliding doors, and french doors.

Make sure that the wires attached to your security system and your telephones lines are buried and cannot be tampered with.

Do not advertise what company supports your security system. You don't want your abuser trying to get information, or trying to pass as one of the owners of the system.

Get motion detectors installed so that you can tell when there is movement around the outside of your home. Check the bulbs frequently to make sure they haven't burned out, broken, or been tampered with.

Position night lights around the inside of your home to eliminate dark spots. You don't have to have a lot of light to see your surroundings.

If you have gates in your yard, make sure they are locked and not accessible without your knowledge. Plant prickly bushes outside vulnerable windows to make it more difficult to get in. Make sure you keep them pruned to waste height for your safety.

Leave a television, or radio on while you are not home. Make sure that the television is not in view of an outside window.

Get a small dog that does not know your abuser. It doesn't have to be trained to be mean... just make sure you praise your dog for barking. If you have a dog that has gone through your domestic violence situation, than your dog will consider your abuser as a part of the family. This dog won't bark to warn you if your abuser comes around. I highly recommend that you get a companion dog for your family dog. Your new dog won't know your abuser, will alert you if your abuser comes around, and possibly prevent a fatal domestic violence situation.

Make sure you have an unlisted telephone number, or change your telephone number to an unlisted number in your name only, as soon as possible.

Sleep with a telephone next to you so you feel connected to others. Call the police if you hear things that don't sound right. When the police arrive, have them check around the outside of your house to verify your safety.

This is a huge step toward your future as you leave domestic violence behind. Congratulations on your secure home and your new beginning!! I am so happy for you.

Please read through this page now and again to make sure you are as secure as possible.

Go to surviving-domestic-violence.org from domestic violence and home security