Dangerous people and their actions often strike us when we are least prepared. Not taking the proper home security steps and assuming that nothing will ever happen to you, can end up putting you at an increased risk. Continue reading this article to help you keep your home safe from those criminals.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. You can purchase timers that can control your household electronics such as lights, TVs and radios. This gives off the appearance that someone is home. That means burglars will pass right by.

Is your dog outside even if you are away? If so, the dog can be a terrific spot to keep a spare key. Attach the key inside their collar and make sure it can’t be seen. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.

Once you buy a house, switch out the locks. You never know how many copies of the keys the previous owners made and handed out. To make sure you have the only access to the home, hire a locksmith. Also, if you lose your keys, change the locks.

If you retain a space key for when you get locked out, consider the place you hide it carefully. Intruders will more than likely check under your doormat or above your door frame. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.

Get a safe to protect your valuable items. This will help to keep your jewelry and other valuables secured in the event of a break in. Keep the safe hidden in a hard-to-find location like an attic or a basement closet.

Solicit word of mouth recommendations from friends, colleagues and family members to find a great home security company or system. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Taking a little time to listen can make you a much better decision maker when it comes to home security.

Your garage should be as secure as your home. Often people are concerned that burglars can enter the home via the attached garage . Happily, there is a solution to this problem. However, you can use a C-clamp to help keep the door secure.

Make sure the ringer on any phones in your home is turned off when you leave for vacation. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

If you have a garage, increase your home security by using it to house your car, rather than just for storage. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

You need to have your security system checked once a year. This should be performed by a technician from your security company. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. You may not be able to tell there is an issue by yourself.

If your home has skylights, don’t neglect to secure them. Skylights are a great addition to any home, but they are also tempting entryways for crooks. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

You should not 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. Pay attention to gossip. You might hear helpful information, for instance if strangers have been hanging around.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. You can hide small valuables inside the walls. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. Anything not used currently makes a good spot for hiding.

You need to change our locks as your first step to ensuring your safety. There are many different people who might have keys from your past, and removing the potential of them accessing your home can be a very good idea. It doesn’t cost much and they can usually show up within a day.

Always lock your house, no matter how briefly you expect to be gone. This is often a surprise, but the majority of burglaries are due to someone just waltzing right into an unlocked home. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

When dealing with a company installing your home security system, it is important that you trust your gut. If you are hesitant about the company, your gut feeling is especially important. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. The point of having a security system is to make yourself feel at ease.

Security System

Don’t think you’re not at risk just because you don’t live in a big city. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Some think that there are less burglars in rural areas.

If you install a security system, make certain to hide the wires well. One of the ways an intruder can get around a security system is by disconnecting or cutting the wires. Keep the wires hidden in the walls or underground to keep intruders from getting in. You will be much safer.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a new home security company. Take a look at various websites and read over customer testimonials and details about various packages. Then, you can choose a top three to contact and compare details and pricing.

Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

See how long the home security company has been around before you make any decisions. A company with a long history has proved they can survive and provide great service to people. You can feel confident when you choose a well established, reputable home security company.

Before you let any strangers enter your home, be sure you look over their references. Try doing a background check to look at their criminal history. You might not know that the maid or contractor entering your home is a crook, and this could be a very bad mistake.

When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? If the numbers aren’t legible, police may drive right by. Thankfully, you can easily fix this problem very quickly and cheaply.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. Doors and windows should not be obstructed by trees, plants or shrubs. If windows and doors can be easily seen from all areas, then burglars cannot hide as well, which will hinder their plans. Plan your home with safety in mind.

Man’s best friend can be one of the most effective anti-burglary systems. Canines are notoriously protective of their family and domicile. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.

Before signing up for home security, find out how long they’ve been in business. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. It also ensures they’re not a fly-by-night firm.

You don’t have to have a giant key ring full of keys just because you want your home to be secure. You can have key-less locks which require a code. You can either install these locks by yourself, or have them professionally installed if you are not that handy yourself.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Robbers will place these on your door and may invade your home if they are not removed. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

Secure valuables that are truly irreplaceable. Passports, jewelry and expensive electronics must be secured at all times. Floor safes may come in handy for this purpose. A better choice is storing them outside your home in a deposit box at the bank.

When you purchase an expensive item such as a computer or TV, be sure to take the cardboard box to the recycling center rather than leaving it on your curb for all the world to see. Burglars will see those boxes and realize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. Break the boxes down, or take a scissors to them to help them fit in your trash can.

If your living room window faces the street, keep your curtains drawn at night. You don’t want to attract peeping Toms. If potential thieves see valuable items inside your house, they may target your house. Make sure you’re discreet concerning your belongings so you can keep your chances of being robbed at a minimum.

Don’t keep your car registration in the glove box of your car. This isn’t smart because anyone can reads them can see where you live. Keep these papers on you or hide them under a seat in your vehicle. You still need to have them close in case you are pulled over.

Homes that have sliding glass doors can be more of a security risk. They can be unlocked with a bit if jiggling. If you do not have a security system hooked up to them, cut a length of pipe to fit in the door channel. This keeps the door shut tightly and makes it difficult to force it open.

Criminals are always unpredictable, and it can sometimes be difficult to understand if you and your home are a target for their illegal activities. You can do a lot more to protect your home and your family than just hope it doesn’t happen to you. Keep these tips in mind, and start looking for a quality home security system.

Keep the windows on the second floor of your home locked. These are easy to overlook because no one expects a criminal to make the effort to break in through an upstairs window. This simply isn’t the case. Criminals know that this is a vulnerable area in home security.