Aetna Booklet Offers Hints on Fighting Theft

Aetna Life & Casualty’s engineering division has prepared a free home inspection guide, “Bless This House,” which can help you evaluate your home’s defenses and assist you in burglar-proofing your residence.

The booklet states that a home is burglarized every 10 seconds in this country, and that victims are often left with a feeling of violation and a blow to their sense of security which can far outweigh the seriousness of the crime.

Nearly half of the home burglaries, it adds, are committed without use of force to gain entry and usually when the occupants are away.

The following are among helpful steps suggested by Aetna: If you plan to be away for an extended period, cancel your newspaper delivery, arrange for a neighbor to pick up your mail and to occasionally park his or her car in your driveway.

Also place exterior lighting in the front, rear and garage areas of your home and place them on an automatic timer. Consider also leaving one or two interior lights and a radio on automatic timer to add a “lived-in” feel.

For a copy of the booklet, “Bless This Home, A Home Security Audit,” write to Aetna & Casualty, 151 Farmington Ave., RWAC, Hartford, Conn. 06156.