Good home security is rarely about gadgets. It is about a handful of basics done properly — and most homes are missing at least one. This home security checklist takes about twenty minutes to walk through, and it works whether you live in a Gary bungalow or a lakefront place near the Dunes.
Doors: The Foundation of Any Home Security Checklist
Every exterior door should have a functioning deadbolt that extends fully into the frame without lifting or jiggling the door. Check the strike plate screws: if they are short stubs biting only the trim, upgrade to three-inch screws that anchor into the stud. Doors with glass within arm’s reach of the thumbturn deserve a double-cylinder deadbolt or a rethink.
Windows and Sliders
Confirm every ground-floor window actually latches — paint, age, and settling foundations quietly disable them over the years. Basement windows deserve special attention since they sit out of sight. For sliding doors, add a track bar or dowel so the panel cannot be forced or lifted.
Lighting and Sightlines
Walk outside at dusk. Entry doors, the garage, and the path from the driveway should be lit — motion-sensor fixtures are inexpensive and effective. Trim shrubs below window height near entrances; overgrown landscaping is privacy for burglars, not from them.
Keys, Codes, and People
Count who can currently open your house: family, neighbors, past contractors, an old dog walker? If the list is fuzzy, rekeying resets it to zero. Retire any spare hidden outside in favor of a combination lockbox or a trusted neighbor, and if you use keypad codes, delete the ones you handed out for one-time visits.
Once a Year, Service the Locks
Locks live outdoors in Northwest Indiana weather — lake-effect freezes, humid summers, grit off the road. An annual once-over keeps cylinders turning smoothly and catches wear before it becomes a 7 AM emergency.
Want a professional set of eyes on it? Jacob’s Lock and Key serves Gary, Ogden Dunes, and all of Northwest Indiana, seven days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM. Call (219) 342-5595.
Last updated: 08/19/2026