Naomi was a single mother of three. She lived in an old house that she inherited from he mother. The house had a large yard and lots of shrubbery and trees. The house also had a basement with a small window facing the street. Naomi was so busy with the kids that she barely had time to make any improvements on the house. As a matter of fact she barely kept it maintained. She always hired some one to do the yard work and other jobs.



They were mostly people recommended by friends. She kept the basement to her house locked and nobody ever went down there. She had plans to develop it one day when one of the children was old enough to live there. For now it was basically closed off. She began to hear strange noises in the basement. It was mostly late at night when everyone was sleep.

It was mostly the same type of noise every night. It sounded like a squeak. Naomi knew the house was old and it made all types of noises anyway, so to her it was just another sign of settling. One night after midnight she heard a loud clang that came from the basement she knew this was not the house settling. She called the police and told them she heard a loud noise in her basement.

They came out to investigate. What they found startled her. Some one had been living in her basement. From the look of things it had been for a long time. Seems liked they entered through the window and exited the same way. Since she never went into the basement they could come and go as they pleased without being caught. There were signs that whoever it was used it as sleeping quarters and left during the day.

She bricked the window in and the noises stopped. The police figured it was a homeless person who had been watching her daily. They knew when to come and when to leave. They probably did not go through the rest of the house for fear of loosing their sleeping spot.

Windows are vulnerable spots in our home. They must be checked periodically to see if they are secure. Windows in places where we are less likely to frequent are more of security risk than others. Burglars routinely check windows for entry into your home. Burglars have probably already tested your windows and you did not even know it.

Windows are the eyes into your home. Check all the windows in your house everyday because it only takes one window left open to bring an intruder in. Never store your valuables so the are visible through a window. Windows near door locks are easy targets for burglars especially if your lock does not require a key.

When possible have locks that do not require keys behind solid walls away from windows. Glass can be easily broken to gain entry to your home. Complete an inventory on your home periodically to see where you lack security. You will find that most of the problems are inexpensive and easy to fix.