Something bad or tragic can and will happen when it is least expect it. You should never risk allowing your home and loved ones to be in a dangerous situation because you’ve failed to have a plan for protection. Read the below article to learn excellent ideas on keeping your home safer and to keep criminals from targeting you.
If you like to have a key hidden in case you lose yours, place it in a safe place. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.
Do you keep your dog outdoors when you leave the home? They may provide you with your spare key. Put it on the dog’s collar.This is especially well as storage if your pet isn’t too fond of strangers.
Fire-resistant building materials are the way to go, both inside and outside the home. These materials will protect your home from both internal fires and the spread of fires that start on other properties. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
Above doors or under doormats are not smart ideas. One good place to hide a spare key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.
Home protection program details may be available at your police station. There are lots of different programs, like home inspections, that will help you take the proper steps to make sure your home adequately protected. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.
Turn the ringers off on your telephone if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you are not there.
Use your garage for your car and not for storage. Keep the car within the garage will make sure no one harms or steals it. Keeping your car in your garage also keeps a thief from knowing whether you are at home or not.
Don’t make a habit of giving strangers enter your home. Even if their story is compelling, do not let them in. This person might just be casing the first rule of keeping your home secure.
You should not be shy. Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep on eye on their home and ask neighbors to return the favor. Never neglect gossip. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.
There is a way to prevent burglars going into their home through an attached garage. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door from being opened by strangers.
If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. Skylights are great for making a home brighter, but they can make it easier for burglars to access the house. Fix your skylights so they cannot be accessed as an entry point by intruders.
Keeping the car inside will deter thieves from stealing or vandalizing it. This will also keep people from home.
Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. It can be a quick job for a burglar to steal items of great value.
The fist thing you’ll need to do for home security is to get your locks changed out. Whether an old roommate left or a relationship ended, this is an important step to any new situation. It is generally cheap and can be done in a little under a day.
If you allow a security company to come to your house, make sure they appear professional and can present identification. Criminals can easily pretend to be from a security firm as a means to gain entry to the house. Intruders could disguise themselves as home security representatives to inspect your current security system. Use caution to stay out of danger.
Make sure that none of your valuables cannot be seen from the outside. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but they also allow others to peer into your home.
Look online for a reputable home security business. Look at many websites and read customer reviews about the various services. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.
Entry Points
Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Look for a security company that is well-established and has extensive experience in the industry. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.
When you pick an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. All windows are possible entry points for thieves. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all your windows and entry points. This is vital to keeping your family secure.
Keep your home’s exterior areas illuminated well. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Install a light in any area a potential intruder can get into your home. Be sure to consider your front and back porch, garage, ground floor windows and any basement entryway.
Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are valuable? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their wires stripped each year. The copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a short time span. Be sure to keep all your wiring hidden and make it hard to access.
Consider your security risk and safety needs before purchasing home security systems. Even though these security systems can guard you and your family, that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. Some neighborhoods would feel be safe enough if you knew basic self defense or had a large dog. Make sure you understand your risks so you can make wise purchasing decisions.
If you are moving into a new home, you should change the locks right away. The previous owners or tenants might have a key.You might even install locks yourself so that you know you have the only one who has a key.
If you are going on a vacation, ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and check your home for flyers. Sometimes burglars leave fliers in an attempt to see if anyone is home to remove them. If it stays where they put it, they will know you are on vacation.
While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they aren’t for everyone. In certain areas, it may be just as useful to learn self defense or buy a dog, or even take self defense classes in order to protect yourself.Know what you can make your decisions based on that.
Make sure that your house number are visible from the street. If you have an emergency, it will be hard for the police to find your house quickly if your numbers are hidden or too small to read. This is easy and inexpensive to fix if you believe there could be a problem.
Install a surveillance system. Both hidden and visible video cameras can help keep your home. Visible cameras are a deterrent to most intruders, and if they try to disarm them, a camera that is hidden will keep capturing footage. Many surveillance systems can even be accessed via cell phone, you can ensure your home is safe even when you’re gone.
There is no need to have keyed locks on interior doors. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. These can be installed either by you, or a home security company.
Make sure no one can look inside of your garage.Don’t leave your front door unlocked or standing open when working there.
Discuss various contracts offered by any home security provider you are exploring. There are sure to be both good points and bad points about each option. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you you could maintain those monthly expenses if you discontinue service or sell the home. A shorter contract gives you more freedom, but it may cost you more per month.
Make sure your address numbers are visible from the street. If there is need for cops to come to your home, it will take longer for the police to locate your home if the numbers are concealed in any way or too small.
Blinds, shades and curtains are best closed when no one is home. Keeping them up can let intruders see directly inside your home. They may break in if they spot something that they like. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.
Your dog is a great crime deterrent. Dogs become extremely protective of turf and bark when something is wrong. It doesn’t even have to be a huge dog either. Even small dogs can keep intruders with enough noise.
If you are concerned about the cost of maintaining your security system, then you may find that a hard-wired solution is a good option. As nice as wireless systems can be, the constant charging and battery changes can become tedious and expensive. If you neglect to change your batteries, the system can fail. What you spend on batteries, additionally, can really add up!
Credit Card
If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. You don’t want all the peeping Toms of the world looking in. Burglars may see something valuable, which will tempt them to steal. Try being discreet about what everyone sees to reduce the chances of being targeted by burglars.
Don’t get spring latch locks installed. These locks are easy to pick by simply using a credit card. Intruders just have to slide a credit card in between the latch and the door. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks.
You must always keep second-floor windows locked. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. However, this is actually not how it goes. This is known as a common weak spot, and criminals know all about this.
Keep your curtains closed when you are away from home. Intruders can look into your home if the blinds are up. You should also have them down when you’re asleep.
Obviously, owning a big dog that has a frightening bark has its benefits. Burglars are often deterred from homes with scary sounding dogs, as they want to avoid bites and attacks. A big dog can be a great burglar deterrent for your home.
Don’t hide keys in obvious places. It is easy to find fake rock. The first place an intruder will check under the doormat. A better key in case you need it. If you want to keep it at your house, be creative with a hiding spot.
Go straight to a home security company to buy your system rather than going through a middle man. Resellers only want to make the most money they can, and they don’t necessarily guarantee their products. Dealing with the company itself will ensure that you’re not paying a middleman and provide you with a warranty.
Solid Wood
If you have kids, bring their toys in when they are not using them. This makes thieves think women live there. Homes where women live are more targeted since their jewelry is usually more valuable than those of men.
Replace flimsy doors with some that are solid wood or metal. Metal and solid wood doors cannot be broken. A burglar would not be able to kick in a solid wood or metal door. The cost of replacing these doors is worth it in the end.
There is a reason that the right to own a gun is a popular, if controversial, amendment since it gives people a way to protect themselves and their homes. If you do decide to arm yourself, make sure that you take a course, follow all your states laws and fully understand how your firearms work. Having a gun in your home might make you feel secure if you know how to use it properly.
A home alarm can be a good investment. Purchase one that is centrally monitored alarm to reap all the security benefits possible. You really cannot depend on your neighbor to contact the neighbors to call.
Your home’s security depends on your trash security. Placing empty boxes of expensive electronics or other pricey items outside tells possible thieves what you have inside your home. Always break down boxes and place them in a dark bag so people passing by your home on trash day can not see.
Always change the keys and locks when you move in.This goes for both rentals and purchased homes, so be sure you talk to any landlord about getting the locks switched, or perform the lock switch yourself.
It is very hard to predict criminal activities, so you never know when your home has become a target. Home burglaries happen more often then you would probably like to think, so it is a good idea to be prepared. Start with these tips, and grow from there.
About The Author
