* Every time you buy or rent a howse or appartment, change the locks.



* Try to contact your neighbours and establish a communication network in case of an emergency, collecting their phone numbers, local police numbers, and fire fighters.

* Leave the emergency phone numbers near the phone on clear visible spot .

* Never give away personal information by phone to someone you don't know or trust.

* Always check for suspicious looking persons near the entrance of your howse. If you think they might be a potential threat, do not enter your howse. Just keep walking as if you were just passing by and contact the police.

* If upon arrival you find that the door has been forced, do not enter. Call the police as soon as posible.

* Use all the security measures, even if you will be absent for just a few minutes.

* Hide valuable jewels and cash in an anchored safe, and preferably in a hidden spot.

* Try to illuminate the whole house, especially outdoors. Avoid leaving dark corners that may allow

criminals to hide.

* Prune trees, bushes and plants periodically, keeping them to a height that impedes someone to hide.

* Reduce the opening and closing time of hall doors. If you have automatic hall doors, always wait until they close completely before leaving or getting off the car.

* Place double lock, only giving keys to people you trust.

* Remember to close the windows, especially those near terraces or balconies.

* Never leave door notes telling about your absence, neither leave hidden keys.

Tips For children:

* Teach them basic data of identity that might be useful on an emergency event (full name, home phone, address).

* Advice them not to give away information to strangers and to never open the door.

* Insist that they mustn't accept anything from a stranger: invitations, sweet neither gifts.

* Inform them about the risks of hitchhiking.

* Explain them how to proceed before an emergency arises.

* Teach them the importance of never telling when their parents are not at home.

* Teach them how to dial to emergency telephones, using a toy telephone.