Since 87% of all crimes in America today are property crimes, protecting your home and family has never been more critical. And when you move into a new home, you have to be especially vigilant, since you're probably unfamiliar with the neighborhood, the home's security system and the crime rate in your new location.

Here is a handy checklist to use before and after you move to protect your home and family.

	Contact your local police department for a crime profile of your new neighborhood. This invaluable information will tell you what to look out for. If you are moving into a new city or state, take a drive around your new town and make yourself aware of local emergency service locations such as local emergency rooms and fire departments
	Before you move, take your family to visit your new home and neighborhood. Walk around and get familiar with your new surroundings. Introduce your family to some of your neighbors. Not only will you feel less like a stranger when you move in, but you'll get a good lay of the land, too.
	Change all of the locks as soon as possible. You never know who was given a key for the old locks and how many old keys are out there. For the best in home security, go with the Grade 1 security features of Schlage Maximum Security locksets. If the house has a burglar alarm, change the access codes immediately and notify any alarm service of the new ownership.
	Tour your new home and property and look for weak links in your home's defenses such as missing deadbolts on exterior doors, flimsy door and window locks and lack of outdoor lighting. Every entry door should have a Maximum Security Schlage deadbolt, including the door linking your garage and house. For added convenience, you can have all your doors keyed alike, which will help your family get accustomed to their new home.
	Consider your perimeter security during your tour. Walk around your yard at different times of the day to judge lighting and shadows. Think about how you will enter and exit the home from different doorways. Look for areas that are obvious hiding places and install motion detector lighting to brighten up the dim areas and paths and discourage trespassers.
	Find out the phone numbers and locations of the emergency services that serve your area. Make sure your family knows this information as well. Display it near your telephones or add them to the speed dial for quick access in an emergency. Throughout the U.S. dial 9-1-1 for police, fire and medical emergencies. For non-emergencies, phone numbers for police, fire and hospitals can be found in local Yellow Pages.
	When you move in, join the Neighborhood Watch in your area. If your community doesn't have one, call your local police and they will be able to help you set one up. Neighborhood Watch is endorsed by police nationwide as one of the most effective means of reducing property crime.