Sandi and Barry Hjort don't leave their doors unlocked since a

break-in and robbery of their home nearly three years ago on

Thanksgiving Day. They were out of town when thieves stole not only

their valuables, but their peace of mind.

Having lived in Denver for 22 years without even a hint of

vandalism, the Hjorts had lived in their new Rapid City home for

less than a year when they received a call about the burglary.

"We were shell-shocked," Sandi Hjort said of the experience.

They immediately began to update their home security system,

installing motion lights around the house, adding deadbolt locks,

replacing the door and door frame of the back entrance and adding

an alarm system and new storm doors.

They also cleared several trees to open up their line of sight in

the driveway and trimmed hedges and bushes around the house and

windows so no one could hide behind them.

Harvey's Lock Shop and Security Systems installed the deadbolts.

Technicians also suggested that when the Hjorts travel, they

eliminate all signs that they are away from home by putting lights

on timers and stopping mail service and newspaper delivery.

Tina Schuler, sales manager at Black Watch Inc., said it helps to

keep ladders, hammers and other equipment stored indoors or in a

locked shed to keep tools out of an intruder's hands.

Schuler says that for many people, peace of mind comes with a

hard-wire, wireless or a hybrid security system tailored for every

situation. While installation is easier in a home under

construction, a system also can be installed in an existing home.

"On our system, we install to fit the family's home and their

needs," she said.

To find out what those needs are, Schuler said her company will do

a site survey, go to the home and do an assessment: Is it for

people who are home alone at night, away on vacation or latch-key

children?

"For less than $1 a day, you're protecting everything in your home

including your family. If you look in the long run, it saves you

money," Schuler said.

Security systems can alert people in the home and police on patrol

about an intruder or even call your cell phone to tell you that

your child has just entered the house.

Advanced technology has made it difficult to disable the security

system without alerting Black Watch. "If something happens, a

signal will be sent through telephone lines, the Internet or

through cellular," she said.

The systems also can monitor dangerous levels of carbon monoxide,

signal fire departments about home fires or alert parents when

sleepwalking children open a door to the street.

"These are customized systems, it's personal. You can call and make

changes and also add to the systems," she said.

While many people take locking their doors for granted while

they're in the home, they shouldn't. Police chases do occur in

Rapid City, with intruders running through the first unlocked door

they can find to escape capture, she said.

"This is not uncommon," Schuler said of people walking into

unlocked homes.

Schuler said that most burglaries occur during the day, using tools

that are on site. Crime happens year-round. Some crooks randomly

target houses while others watch a neighborhood to see when people

leave for work. All crooks are looking for things that are easy to

pawn.

This was true of the Hjorts, who lost an assortment of heirloom

jewelry and a gun.

"We never recovered any of it," Sandi Hjort said.

The Hjorts believe their home was not a random break-in since

the interior lights were on timers, their dogs were in the house

and family members were checking the house daily to feed the

pets.

But on the day of the break-in at about twilight, a family member

had walked into the house on a whim. He opened the garage door,

walked into the house and the dogs were quiet. It wasn't until he

opened the back door to let the dogs outside that he noticed the

broken door frame.

Quickly going back inside, he then saw the Hjorts' empty jewelry

box and an empty holster lying on the couch. He immediately ran

next door to his mother-in-law's home to call the police.

The Hjorts suspect that whoever broke in were still in the house

when their nephew, Michael, came through the garage. Even after all

this time, it still haunts the couple that a relative may have

unknowingly walked into a dangerous situation. While Sandi Hjort

placed great sentimental value on the heirlooms handed down from

her mother and anniversary gifts from her husband, she has kept it

in perspective to what might have happened.

"Barry said that it was only stuff that was taken. Michael was

safe," she said.

Security tips

for a safer home

Never open a door to a stranger.

Place security stickers in windows.

When at home, draw your curtains at night.

Cut back bushes and trees around the entire house.

Keep foliage and shrubs cut away from windows.

Don't leave ladders or other tools in the open.

Write down license plates of suspicious vehicles.

Lock all doors, windows and gates.

Accompany service people when touring home.

Don't store house keys outdoors.

If you have a security system, use it.