There may always be someone who will want your valuable items. A good home security system is the best way to protect yourself from thefts. Read on to find out how to secure your home.

Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Intruders will think to look on the top if a door frame and under a doormat. Try hiding your key somewhere more unique, like your outside dog’s collar.

Make your house look like it’s always occupied. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. This way, your house will always look occupied. That means burglars will pass right by.

It is important to invest in building supplies that are as fire resistant as possible. This will give your home added security. Fire prevention is paramount.

If your social networking accounts are filled with folks you do not really know, do not announce vacations on the sites. If you do, burglars will know you’re not home and strike.

Some home security systems have additional security features besides sounding an alarm to deter a burglar. You can have your system alert you of any movement in certain areas of your home. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

Keep your car in your garage. This will keep it away from thieves and vandals. Besides, intruders will have a hard time determining whether or not you are home if you keep your car inside your garage.

Make sure you have a safe to keep valuable items in one place. This is very important, as you do not want your gold, diamonds and personal items exposed if someone were to break into your house. The safe should be situated in an inconspicuous area of your home.

Get to know your neighbors. It is important to communicate with others who also live in your area. By knowing the people in your neighborhood, you can rest a little easier knowing that people are looking out for each other. Pay attention to gossip. You may learn some great information about security, such as if any strangers have been hanging around.

The walls of your home make for great hiding spots. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. Any phone jack or electrical outlet that isn’t being used is a great place to hide valuables. If you use all of them, you can always have fake ones installed.

When looking to purchase a good home security system, it is best that you look at many companies. Prices can differ a lot among companies for the same type of protection. Get at least 3 quotes from security system companies and compare features and services as well as monthly costs.

Look for an alarm system that does more than protect your doors. It should protect the windows too. Make sure you have a monitored alarm on every one of them. This is just one more thing you can do to protect your home.

The number one thing you must do if you’re moving into a new place is have the locks changed. Though the prior occupant may have relinquished their keys, there may be copies out there. Find a reliable locksmith who can replace the locks or do it yourself.

If there are folks you don’t know or trust in your social network online, don’t let them know you are going away. You may be very excited about your impending vacation, but there is no need to let potential burglars know when you will be gone.

You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. This is a great way to deter prowlers and potential intruders at night.

Keeping the home illuminated during evening hours helps keep criminals away. That’s because they want to remain hidden. If your home is well lit, thieves won’t have any place to hide, so they may not want to steal anything from you. Keep lights on during the night.

It’s a good idea to have motion sensor lights installed. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. They will signal movement to you but will also serve as deterrents to the thieves. But keep in mind that the bulbs to the security light should be routinely changed to ensure that the deterrent system functions properly.

Personal Information

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. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.

Walls are great for hiding things. If you have valuables that are small in size, you may want to hide them within your walls. All you need is a wall opening you’re not using (something like a phone jack, electrical box, or switch plate). You can also just put in a false plate to cover a hiding place.

The best method to maintain a thief from going into the garage is making sure nobody can see inside. Use a frosted film to cover the windows. This can be purchased at many hardware stores. Don’t let your door hang open for lengthy periods of time.

If you are away, pull your shades closed. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. It could be enticing to break in if they notice something that’s nice. Do not forget to close your shades before going to bed.

Don’t put extra keys under doormats or in planters. You might think that you are providing yourself a safe way into the house if you misplace your keys, but you are really inviting attackers inside. Burglars are familiar with these hiding spots. Instead, trust a neighbor to hold your spare key.

If you turn lights on and off around the same time, try using a timer. They will go on when you need them, plus they’ll also go on when you’re not home.

Secure any valuables which can’t be replaced. Items like family photos, passports, legal documents and expensive jewelry should be kept in a safe place. A great choice for keeping these items in your home is a floor safe. To be even more cautious, you can get a safety deposit box at your local bank.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.

If your living room window faces the street, keep your curtains drawn at night. You would not want to tempt outsiders to look through your window. If one happens to be a criminal, they have an instant visual of many valuable items in your home, making you an easy target. Lock everything up and shade your windows to stay discreet.

Be prepared for the worst contingency when it comes to criminal threats. Don’t live in fear all the time, but try taking precautionary steps. These tips can put your family in the safest position possible.

If someone from the security company comes to your home, ask to see their ID before allowing them in. Thieves can pass themselves as workers, which can end up in a robbery of your home. This is a danger to your belongings and your family. You want to use caution to prevent danger.