Ex-con divulges tricks of the trade

Folks worried about home security might do well to heed the advice of a hardened criminal when it comes to burglary-proofing one's abode.

Houston-based NBC affiliate KPRC recently sat down with ex-con Bob Portenier, a retired criminal who said he burglarized more than 100 homes before serving an eight-year prison sentence in the 1980s. Portenier gave his opinion on the best ways to beef up home security.

Homeowners should keep checks and credit cards in a safe bolted to the floor or wall, rather than in a desk, he suggested, admitting that he routinely took a single checkbook from homes, knowing that homeowners would be less likely to notice its disappearance. He also noted that many homeowners typically hide valuable items in similar places, such as under a mattress or in a bedroom closet. Storing those valuables in a less likely place may foil some criminals, he told KPRC.

Homeowners could also install security cameras as part of a home security system. Recently, Orlando Police Chief Paul Rooney told the local media that crime rates would drop by 10 percent if every homeowner installed a security camera.

This article is brought to you by Protect America - the leading distributor of state-of-the-art GE Wireless Home Security Systems. Protect America protects homes across the US from intrusion, theft, fire, flooding, medical emergencies and more with 24/7 Cellular, Broadband and Landline Monitoring and cutting edge technology.

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