One of the most simple things you can do to improve your home security is simply making sure you have a house number clearly visible from the street. As a former deputy sheriff I often had to respond to addresses as quickly as possible. Whether for medical emergencies or intervening in domestic violence situations it was often vital to get to the correct address as rapidly as I could.
A first responder heading to your house for an urgent call is juggling multiple tasks including driving as quickly as safely possible with lights and sirens on, listening to radio updates, potentially having to read updates on their computer while driving, navigating to an address they have never been to, and deciding on-route how they are going to handle the call. All this can be compounded when you come flying down a residential street looking for the right address but half the houses have no numbers and the numbers on the curb have long since faded away. GPS is often not accurate enough and having to ask dispatch to get a description of the right house can take precious seconds.
Having clear painted numbers on your curb in addition to clearly visible and preferably illuminated house numbers on your home make it easier for emergency responders to find your home when seconds count.
In addition to helping emergency responders, a visible house number can also help deter potential burglars. Burglars often look for homes that are easy targets, and a home with a visible house number is less likely to be seen as an easy target. A house number that is clearly visible from the street sends a message to burglars that someone is paying attention to their home and is less likely to be an easy target.
There are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your house number is highly visible. First, make sure your house number is large and easy to read. It should be at least 3 inches tall and made from a contrasting color to make it stand out. If your house number is on your mailbox, make sure it is positioned so that it is easily visible from the street. You may also want to consider adding lighting to your house number to make it even more visible at night. You can buy stencils at the hardware store for curb numbers and there are inexpensive solar illuminated house numbers available on Amazon and elsewhere.
In conclusion, having a highly visible house number is a simple and important aspect of home security. Not only does it make it easier for emergency responders to find your home, but it also helps deter potential burglars. By taking a few simple steps to make sure your house number is visible, you can help keep your home and family safe.
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