Keeping the integrity and security is something that you need to be serious about and something that can’t be neglected. Unfortunately, it can often be tough to know where to begin. With the information presented here, you can move forward systematically.
Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. However, this method is only effective if your dog is large, scary, and stays outdoors. Just hide a spare house key on the inside of your dog’s collar. Then when you need an extra key, you will be able to access this one.
TIP! Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Really this works only if you have a pet door or if your dog is an outdoor dog.
Make sure your home appears occupied. Purchase timers for electronics, lights, radios and TVs so that they will turn on and off at varied intervals. This helps to create the illusion that someone is presently at home. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.
Seek recommendations from friends and family when choosing a security company or system. Other people are sure to have opinions and experiences to share. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.
TIP! Before selecting any home-security company, talk to your friends to see who they suggest. This will help you to reduce the stress that you have on your search for a good one.
Spare Key
If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. When burglars hear phones ringing for an extended period of time in a home, they know that there is no one there to answer.
TIP! You should mute your land line phone if you are going on a vacation. If the phone rings when you are away, burglars will know there’s nobody home, making the house vulnerable to a break-in when you are out.
Your dog could carry a spare key for you. Of course, your dog has to be an outdoor dog (or you at least need to have a doggy door) for this to work. Store a spare key within your dogs collar so you always have access to your home.
Never open the door for a stranger. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.
TIP! Do not open your door for anyone you don’t know. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in.
Only give your house key to a professional house cleaner if you trust them. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Check references thoroughly. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.
During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. They pose a fire risk. Clear your yard often if you want to prevent a fire from starting.
TIP! During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning.
Buy a safe to keep all of your valuables in one place at home. This is vital since it means all of your things will be safe if someone breaks in your home. Hide that safe in a difficult-to-reach place like in a closet inside your basement or an attic.
Consider changing your locks as a part of your home security program. Perhaps your roommate left town or you have gone through a messy divorce, and you need to feel that the home is safe. Changing locks is not very expensive and should be done within a few hours.
TIP! Switch your locks. Anyone from an old roommate to a former tenant could have access to your home if you leave the old locks in place.
Talk to people you know for referrals when choosing home security systems. They may have had experiences with certain companies and can lead you in the right direction. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.
Find a home security company you can trust. If the installers make you feel uncomfortable, heed your feelings. You don’t want to refrain from choosing a different company or technician. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.
TIP! Go with your instincts when choosing a security system company. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important.
Make sure your attached garage is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. You can use a C-clamp to stop the door from being opened.
Don’t put your spare keys under floor mats or plants. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home. Potential burglars know the usual hiding places. Ask a reliable neighbor or a friend to keep your spare key.
TIP! Don’t put your extra key under you doormat, in a planter, or in a cleverly disguised false rock. Though you may think you are giving yourself a way into your home if you lose your key, you are actually inadvertently inviting intruders into your home.
Police Department
You should change all the locks if you just bought or rented a new home. Regardless of how trustworthy you consider the last owners to be, neither you nor they can be sure that there aren’t others out there with keys to those locks. Many other people could have keys to the property, and you probably don’t want them to all have access to your home.
TIP! Replace all the locks in your newly purchased home. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy.
See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. Contact the police department to see if they have something similar.
Did you know that the wires on your home are valuable? Many people have their wires stripped each year. Copper wiring is quite valuable, and it’s quick and easy for criminals to strip it right off the outside of your house! To keep the wiring safe, be sure that the wire is hidden from view.
TIP! The wiring on your house is valuable to burglars. Lots of people fail to appreciate this until they are hit by thieves.
Avoid coming across as overly shy. Speak to your neighbors. By knowing the people in your neighborhood, you can rest a little easier knowing that people are looking out for each other. It does not necessarily pay to steer clear of gossip. You never know what sort of security issues you might become privy to.
Ask for ID before letting anyone into your home. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house. This could be quite dangerous. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.
TIP! If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. Many thieves use this tactic to enter a house.
Do you live out in the country? If so, you might not be as worried about burglars breaking in as those people in the city are. Some maintain that rural dwellers have greater risk since their neighbors live farther away. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.
Screen the references of anyone who would have access to your house. Check if they have any history of criminal activity. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.
TIP! Check someone’s references carefully before letting them come into your home. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history.
There is a lot of value in copper wiring. A lot of people do not know this until a thief steals them from the house. Copper is expensive and most wiring is composed of it, so stripping it is a great way for crooks to make a quick buck. That’s why it’s important to hide your wiring, or make it hard for criminals to have access to it.
Consider a wireless home security system. While wireless systems are often cheap, the cost of installation can be sky high. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.
TIP! Think about having a wireless security system for the home installed. While wired systems may seem cheaper, they need your home to be rewired and they can fail due to a power outage.
Security Company
Invest in a good paper shredder. 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 you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.
TIP! If you don’t own a paper shredder, get one. You would be surprised at how often thieves look through trash to find personal information to find out when you will be away from home so they can break in.
When allowing a representative from any security company to enter your home, look for someone in uniform and ask to see an identification. It is simple for a thief to pose as a representative of your home security company as a means of gaining access to your house. This is dangerous to your valuables and your family. You want to use caution to prevent danger.
A smart way to prevent burglars from entering the garage is to keep them from seeing what is inside. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. It’s also a good idea to avoid leaving your garage door open for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if you’re at home.
TIP! The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Add frosting to your window glass to keep folks from looking in the house.
Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Don’t provide burglars with cover by planting big shrubs in front of your doors and windows. With areas like these visible, there will be no hiding while attempting a break-in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.
Break down the boxes from your new TV or computer rather than leaving them on the side of the road. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are new valubles in your house. Cut the boxes and wait until the garbage truck comes to put them outside.
TIP! If you purchase an expensive item, get rid of the box rather than allowing it to sit outside your home. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target.
Be sure to get a home security service that will inspect your home and tailor a home security system just for you. Everyone has specific needs and wants when dealing with the security of their house, belongings and family. If you are able to secure a company willing to tailor a system to your needs, there is a good chance that you will be satisfied.
Inquire whether a security company offers variable contract lengths. There are of course pros and cons for each contract. Your bill may be lower with a long-term contract, but you could wind up paying for a service you’re not using if you decide to move. A shorter term allows for flexibility, but it might be expensive.
TIP! See if your security firm offers a variety of contract lengths. There are of course pros and cons for each contract.
Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. While these systems are great and can help protect your family, they are not necessary for everyone. In some situations, having a good dog and/or learning some self defense may be all that you really need to feel safe. Be sure to assess the risk level you face before making big decisions.
Avoid making the password your birth date for numeric locks. Your birthday is easy to obtain, and you don’t want your house to be easily accessible. Try making the number one that can be remembered by doing a match equation in order to remember that equation instead.
TIP! If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Anyone can find your birth date in your mail or on your social networks and can then access your home.
Invest in a high quality paper shredder. Thieves can use this information to figure out your schedule and determine the best time to break in. If a paper shredder is not in your budget, consider tearing your documents into tiny pieces or even burning them.
Always keep your irreplaceable valuables secure. Legal and financial documentation, IDs, pricey jewelry, and important mementos like family albums should be protected as carefully as possible. A fireproof floor safe is ideal for this. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.
TIP! Make sure that your valuables are kept in a secure location. Irreplaceable valuables, including financial records, family photos, legal documents, passports, etc.
Get your neighbors to not only pick up your mail, but also any flyers left at your door. Often burglars will place these at homes and wait to see if people take them down. If their fliers are not moved, the crook knows the home is unattended.
Women are more likely than men to be a target for burglary. This is especially true if they live on their own with children. Place large, muddy boots at your doorstep so it looks like a big, burly fellow lives there. Burglars should pass on by.
TIP! Women living alone or with just children are targeted more often than others. Place large, muddy boots at your doorstep so it looks like a big, burly fellow lives there.
A safer home will bring you peace of mind. There is no doubt about this. The best way to know this can sometimes be elusive, though, unless you have reviewed the information above.
Don’t let your children leave toys in your yard. This makes it fairly obvious that a woman lives in the house. Homes with women are more attractive targets because they probably have pricy jewelry inside.
TIP! Put all your kids’ outdoor toys away. This makes the burglars suspect that women live there, and they are viewed as easy targets.