Perhaps you are acquainted with someone whose home as been broken into at one time or another. There has been an increase in home invasions, and folks need to take extra caution when it comes to securing their homes. Home invasions can occur anywhere; no neighborhood is immune. The information below will help you prevent this from happening in the future.
Compare different systems when looking into home security. Wild variations in pricing can exist for similar security products. Make sure to obtain quotes from a minimum of three companies prior to deciding on a final one.
Make your house look occupied all the time. You could purchase timers and have your TVs, lights, radios and other types of electronics to go on at various times. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. This should help you make your home safer and not attract the attention of potential intruders.
You need to have your security system checked once a year. Get a professional in to check it out. There are any number of problems that can cause malfunctions in your security system, from weather damage to animal activity. You might not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.
Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.
Do not be reluctant to meet your neighbors. Introduce yourself to your neighbors. Watch their homes and ask them if they’ll watch yours as well. Pay attention to gossip. You could learn important security information, such as if strangers have been lurking around the neighborhood.
Get a good safe to store your valuables in your home. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. Hide your safe in a hard to find place like the basement or attic.
Be sure your valuables are not visible from the outside of your house. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but that works both ways. Keep your windows covered and your belongings private.
Buy fire-resistant building materials. Your home will get added protection, especially if your environment is dry and has power lines. Fire prevention should be taken seriously because it can stop a major disaster from happening.
If you move to a place that was occupied before, you should change the locks right away. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.
See if your area police department has any home security programs. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family. A quick call to the non-emergency number at the police station in your town will tell you all you need to know.
Be sure to make good use of the Internet when you’re trying to select your home security company. Research the possibilities, check out package options and pricing and analyze customer feedback. Make appointments with the three best companies, and take the time to go over the details and compare them.
Security System
Light up your home’s exterior. Thieves like to commit crimes when no one can see. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This can include the garage, doorways, porches and other areas which invite an intruder in.
Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. There are many reason why a home security system can have problems, and it might be the weather or wild animals that cause it to malfunction. Sometimes it is very difficult to see the problem if you don’t know where it is.
In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. This is dangerous since the thief may still be on your property. Instead, call 911 and report a possible break-in.
Use motion sensors on exterior lighting. If someone enters their proximity, they will light automatically. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.
If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. A flier that hangs around for days on end lets burglars know that there’s no one in the home.
Skylights need to be secure, too. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. The hardware that secures your skylights should be sturdy and durable.
Do not purchase spring latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. An intruder has only to press the card into the doorjamb between latch and the door and the lock will pop open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.
Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. In a lot of cases, home intruders enter through unlocked doors. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.
Don’t put your key in an obvious hiding place. It is easy to spot a fake rock. The thief will check under the mat before anything else. Instead, you should keep your spare keys with a trusted neighbor. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.
Change all of the locks in your new residence. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. You should also keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home before the previous homeowner.
Purchase a timer to put your lights on and off during the day. A timer is very convenient and will give the impression that your home is occupied if you have to go away over extended periods of time.
The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.
Keep valuables that are irreplaceable secure. Items like passports, family photos, financial records, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. Purchase a safe with a lock to store all of these items. For ultimate security, of course, such items can be kept in an off-site location like a bank’s safe deposit boxes.
Don’t let anyone in your house without knowing their work history and checking their references. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.
Ask the security company you hire whether they have lights with motion sensors. This will illuminate the exterior of your home anytime someone approaches. Motion sensitive lighting can scare off an intruder and allow you to safely enter your home.
Security Companies
A sliding glass door can make your home less secure. They can be simply unlocked with a lift and a shake. A piece of pipe or wood (e.g. a hefty broomstick) cut to the proper length and used to block the door channel can provide affordable security if you don’t have an alarm system. This holds the door firmly in position. Even if the lock is broken, the door will still be held closed.
The Internet is great for searching for home security companies, so use it to your advantage. Many websites offer reviews, recommendations, and detailed pricing information. Put together a list of the different home security companies you want to know more about and give them a call.
Keep your windows upstairs locked. This is most often overlooked by a lot of people due to the fact that they don’t think a burglar will check them. Burglars watch for open second story windows. Many home-security plans neglect this step, and unfortunately, many burglars know this.
Ask a home security company to come to your house and design a security system that is perfect for your needs. They should take your concerns seriously and address any issues you have. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.
Women are more likely than men to be a target for burglary. This is especially true if they live on their own with children. Set out oversized muddy boots on the front step to make it look like a large and active man lives there. This can deter criminals from going into your home.
Be sure and keep the outside of your house well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Install lights by each and every entryway to your home. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.
Make sure your children bring in all of their toys from the yard when they are done playing. When thieves see toys in the yard, they assume women live in the home. Burglars may target homes where women live. Why? Women, in general, have more expensive jewelry.
If you haven’t gotten a paper shredder, it may be time to purchase one. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. If a shredder is too expensive, at least tear relevant paperwork into small bits.
Avoid having rooms in your house that are visible from the outside. If expensive electronics are easy to see from the outside, burglars will see them as well. Be sure to put up good blinds and/or drapes to obstruct the view from outside. If this isn’t possible, move valuable items into another room.
Don’t use spring-latch locks. These locks can easily be picked within a couple of minutes. A thief only needs to skip the credit card in between the lock to make it open. If this is the kind of lock on your doors, strongly consider adding a deadbolt for safety.
Thieves don’t like video cameras. Most criminals are unable to conceal their identity for the entire crime; video surveillance is a valuable asset in preventing and convicting criminals. Eye witness testimony alone can be overwhelming for the victim, and cameras are an effective deterrent in crime prevention. If they see a surveillance system, they will often leave.
Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. This isn’t smart because anyone can reads them can see where you live. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. Remember, you do need to be able to access them quickly if you get pulled over by a policeman.
People like being able to own guns because it makes them feel secure. You may wish to get trained to use a type of gun and then buy one if you feel it’s necessary. Having a gun in your home might make you feel secure if you know how to use it properly.
Remember that burglaries happen in all kinds of homes, from modest to luxurious. Thieves target houses that are easily broken into. Follow the advice below to make sure your house and family are safe and secure.
When you open the door to a stranger, you open it also to danger. If a person arrives at your door needing assistance, call for them from behind the door. If you are ever unsure how to handle a stranger, call the cops.
Gathering information on a subject that interests you is a fundamental first step towards becoming an expert in that area. You should now have enough information to get you started. This information can be a great platform for success.
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