You likely know someone that has been the victim of a home invasion. Home invasion crimes are happening more often, so people should be extra vigilant about protecting their home. This article talks about some information that can be used for boosting your home’s security.
Do you have an outdoor dog? Using Fido to hide your spare key can be a clever trick. Attach your key to your dog’s collar, ensuring that it can’t be seen. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.
Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert you to anyone entering your home. This is great for parents that have small children as they are made aware their kids open or close doors.
If you have an extensive online presence that includes a lot of people you don’t know too well, avoid announcing upcoming vacations. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.
Comparison shopping is essential when you are ready to buy a security system for the home. Get quotes from no less than three companies so that you can get the best one.
Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.
Above doors or under a mat are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. You should hide the key with your dog’s collar.
Don’t be shy. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. Keep watch of their homes when they are away, and ask if they will return the favor. Don’t ignore the gossip. While this is unorthodox, it may clue you into a possible home security threat.
Turn the ringer off on all your phones if you are going to be away. A constantly ringing phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you are not there.
Have lights that sense motion. When a person walks by your home too closely, these lights will go on. This is a good way of knowing who comes near your home and keeps you safe if you ever come home late. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.
See if your local police department offers any home protection programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, engraving tools for marking code numbers onto items so that they will be easily identified if stolen. Call and inquire as to what is available.
Your home may be equipped with skylights, and if so you must not neglect them in your security planning. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Keeping your car in the garage can keep thieves from vandalizing it. This can also keep people from home.
Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Just take advantage of the phone jack, electrical outlet or unused switch plate. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.
Put motion-sensor lights around your home. These kinds of lights will come on whenever any living thing gets too close to your home. Just remember and change out the bulbs every so often so the lights remain in working order.
Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Instead of letting you into your home in the event you are locked out, you are providing criminals with easy access to your home. For obvious reasons, experienced burglars know every possible hiding spot. Instead, give your extra key to a neighbor whom you trust.
Some maintain that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors.Some people think that there are less burglars in rural areas.
If there is any rotted wood around your door frame, replace it. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Find a reliable contractor who can replace the door frame for you.
Hide your home security system. Intruders can disable a system by cutting or unplugging the wires.This will make you safer.
If you hire a security company, read any fine print. There may be hidden costs to doing business with them, including early termination fees and surprising equipment costs. You’ll definitely want to avoid these types of fees if you can, so read carefully.
Replace all the locks in a new house.Regardless of how you feel about the sellers, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks.
Ask about the history of any home security company you are considering. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.
Replace any wood on your door frames. An intruder can simply pry away that rotted wood easily to open the door. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to make your home safer.
If the front door is open when you get home, resist the temptation to go in alone to find the reason. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. You should call the cops and then wait for them before you do anything else.
Flashlights are essential since they allow you to move around if an emergency. Make sure each member of your whole family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.
Anytime you make a new electronics purchase, keep the boxes off the curb until the very last minute. Burglars will see those boxes and realize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. Break down the empty boxes whenever possible.
Ask your home security company how long they’ve been in business before you sign up for service. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service to people. Knowing you are dealing with a fly by night company gives you extra peace of mind when making this crucial decision.
Your security company might give you the option to lease and eventually buy your security equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. Sometimes it’s more affordable to begin with a lease, even though a continued lease may be costly in terms of ongoing higher monthly fees. Look at both of these to see what works for you.
Ground Floor Windows
Ask the security company whether or not that have motion sensitive lighting. Most companies offer this option which detects within a given distance of your home and alerts you that someone is approaching. This can offer you additional safety as you are entering your home, and it can also deter an intruder.
Keep your home’s exterior areas well lit. Burglars like using darkness to commit their crimes. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can see everything outside. This includes porches and doorways, the garage, as well as ground floor windows, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.
Get a home alarm, but only if the police are called when it’s gone off. The wiser investment is in centrally monitored security systems. These alarm services ensure that the police will be called whether anyone is home or not. Don’t count on neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police.
While these systems could be good for protecting your family, they aren’t necessary for every family. In some neighborhoods, you might be better off taking a self defense class or owning a dog, while in others, an advanced home security system will fit the bill. Know what you can make your decisions based on that.
The windows on your second floor always need to be locked. Most people don’t think about someone entering the home from the second floor. This isn’t so. Never underestimate the ability of an intruder to get into your home if they are really determined.
Never enter your home if you arrive and find the door is open or something doesn’t feel right. This is a delicate situation as the thief may still be inside your property. Call the authorities and let them do the situation.
The best locks you can get are deadbolts that include captive keylocks. These locks have a thumb latch that will keep intruders from opening it by using a broken window pane to reach in. When you are at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.
Personal Information
Women living alone or with only children are easy targets for home invasion. Consider putting some large, dirty boots on your porch so that it looks like the man of the house is home. This can discourage burglars from choosing your home for a robbery.
Thieves may look through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. You could also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
Remember that all external wiring is a tempting target. Copper wiring is worth a lot today. Keeping your wires hidden prevents the thieves from seeing them and wanting to take them.
Can you see the number of your house number if you are standing on the street? If an emergency happens, police may drive right by.
Keep your home’s rooms from being seen from the outside of the house. If you can see a big screen tv or computer from outside your home, a thief can see it too. Try installing drapes or blinds so that people outside can’t see what you have inside. If this is not a possibility, keep really valuable stuff in interior rooms.
Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home security weapons. Dogs become extremely protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. It is not necessary to have to be a big tough dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise will deter a potential crime.
Few people realize that a smoke detector needs to be cleaned periodically. This is also true of a carbon monoxide detector. The sensors in the detector can be compromised by an accumulation of dirt and dust. This makes your detectors ineffective when keeping your home safe from carbon monoxide and smoke.
You need to inquire about whether you can buy or purchasing equipment. Buying equipment can be pricey upfront, however it can actually save you money over time. Leasing is usually the cheaper option; however, but you will have to pay monthly fees. Look at both choices to know which one is better for your personal circumstances.
If your home has window-mounted air conditioning units, ensure that each one is secure and cannot be dislodged. Burglars can use this as a point of entry if not secured. You can also remove the unit during colder months, as this will make your home more secure.
You shouldn’t keep your auto registration papers in the glove compartment. This is not wise since anybody who has access to them is going to know where you live. Keep them on you or hide them elsewhere.You must have them close in case you are pulled over.
Your trash plays a big role in how safe your home is. If you leave a plasma television box on the curb, for instance, a thief might view you as an easy target for theft of high ticket items. Some burglars will even view refrigerator or washing machine boxes as an indication that you have more cash and valuables inside.
The best locks you can get are deadbolts that include captive keylock. These locks have a thumb latch that will keep intruders from reaching around and opening it by using a broken window pane to reach in. When at home, leave the key in the lock so that you can get out in case of a fire.
If you have expensive electronics or valuables, do not place them by your windows. If they are not immediately visible, a thief is not going to be instantly motivated to come in and steal them.
Have you ever heard that burglaries only occur at expensive homes? If so, then don’t buy into this theory! Thieves will hit any home that appears to be an easy target. Make your home a safer place for your family by following the advice presented here and making your home unappealing to burglars.
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