No one is safe from burglaries and other dangerous situations. Home break-ins are increasing, so people should be extra vigilant about protecting their home. A home break in can happen in any location. This article discusses what you are able to do to enhance your home’s security.

Use your dog as the protector of your spare key. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so it is always handy.

When you buy a new house, be sure the locks are changed. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. Having a locksmith replace the locks will ensure that no strangers have a key. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? This is where you can put your spare key. Put the key on the dog’s collar. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.

Only provide your house cleaner with a key if you trust him or her implicitly. If they need the keys and plan on being in there for more than an hour, try to ensure that they are honest, hardworking, and reputable. Carefully check their references. If you’re hiring from a company, call the BBB for more information.

If you keep a spare key outside to prevent yourself from being locked-out, think carefully about where you hide it. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. A better place to keep your key is inside your outside dog’s collar.

If you have a stranger at your door, do not open it. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Make a house rule forbidding anyone to open the door for an unexpected visitor.

Have lights that are motion-sensor installed. Lights like these will automatically turn on whenever someone is near them. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.

Garage Doors

Do you live outside the city? You might be less worried about home invasions than if you lived in an urban area. However, there is the belief that rural dwellers are more susceptible to break ins simply because there are no nearby neighbors. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. A C-clamp is very useful for garage doors that lift on tracks. It will prevent garage doors from opening up whenever it is near the roller and is tight on the track.

Walls are a great hiding spot for your valuables. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Just open up an electrical outlet or a phone jack that is not in use. Installing a false unused plate is very easy to do if your home doesn’t have one.

In summer, take care to trim back branches and plants near the house. These can quickly become fire hazards when hit by direct sunlight, placing your house at risk. Keep your yard clear of debris to keep your house safe.

Use the space in walls to store your prized possessions. You don’t need to cut out segments of your walls by the way. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. You could removed the wiring from an electric socket that you aren’t using, and stash jewelry inside it.

Hide your security system’s wiring. A burglar will simply cut the wires if he can see them. Make it hard for a burglar to avoid your detection. This will help to deter intruders that are looking to quickly disable your alarm system.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. Large windows allow you to keep an eye on who is approaching your home, but keep in mind that potential intruders will be tempted if they can see your valuables. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

Always check references before letting anyone work on your home. You should do a background check as well to find out their criminal history. Someone can seem nice and professional on the outside, but they may not be so nice on the inside.

Once you’ve moved to a new house, make it a priority to replace all locks. You don’t really know the people you purchased the house from or all the folks they shared keys with, so don’t place too much trust in the old locks. Besides, other tenants or owners might have copies of the key if the previous owners did not change the locks.

If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. There may be hidden costs in the event you wish to cancel before the end of the contract. This may also be true if you need more or different equipment in the future. Be aware of these particular fees so you can steer clear of them.

Before allowing any security company reps to come into your home, make sure they have on a uniform and they have valid ID. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This proves rather dangerous for both your family and also your valuables. Be careful to avoid this sort of danger.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. If you have them visible, people can’t hide in those areas while they try to break in. Have your landscape several feet away from your house for better safety.

A great way to achieve extra security is to install exterior lighting equipped with motion detectors. In the dark hours, these lights will provide the illumination necessary to protect your home and also save money by staying off when they’re not needed. If the lights are positioned correctly on your home, then it makes it much less likely for a burglar to enter.

If you get home and notice an open door, do not go in to see what has happened. Your home and the area surrounding it may still be in danger. Request that the police come and have them go in and check it out, before you go in yourself.

If you don’t own a paper shredder, it would be a good idea for you to buy 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.

Arrange for someone to pick up your mail and remove any fliers from your door if you are out of town. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. By your neighbor taking the flyer, it appears as if you got it yourself.

Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Go to a hardware store and buy some frosting so you can cover your windows. Make a habit of keep your door closed and locked.

Discourage burglars by making your garage windows opaque. Frost your windows so people cannot look inside your home. Keep your garage door closed as often as possible, too.

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. A burglar sees this as an invitation to procure the item themselves. Cut up the boxes completely instead.

If you have kids or roommates that you don’t want in certain household areas, it’s not necessary to lock multiple doors and tote around tons of keys. It is possible to have locks that require just codes, not keys. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.

When you’re not in your house, all of the window coverings (blinds, curtains, shades, or what have you) should be tightly shut. You don’t want potential intruders to be able to look inside. If their eyes fall on something they like, they are going to think about breaking in. Keep them down as you sleep, too.

Spring Latch Locks

Do not store your car registration in your glove box. The reason is that anyone who sees them will immediately have your home address. Hold these documents in person so you know where they are at all times. You must have this information on hand if you are stopped for a traffic violation.

Don’t utilize spring latch locks. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. An intruder has only to press the card into the doorjamb between latch and the door and the lock will pop open. If you have already installed spring latch locks, consider adding a deadbolt for even more security.

Avoid keeping your key somewhere expected. Rocks that aren’t real are easy to notice. Doormats, too. It’s better to ask a trusted friend or neighbor to hold your extra key. If none of these options are possible, try to think of an unusual hiding place.

If you are away, pull your shades closed. If you don’t, others can look in and see that the property is currently unoccupied. If burglars see items in your home that appear valuable, they’ll likely break in to steal them. You should keep them closed while you are asleep.

You should invest in a timer to turn lights on and off at regular times. This can simplify your life, but it also makes your home appear lived in if you are away.

Ask whether companies offer options to lease or buy your security equipment. You’ll spend less money in the long-run if you buy the equipment outright. By leasing equipment, you can get the protection you want for less, but you may be paying for it over and over as time goes on. Look into both choices to know which one is better for your personal circumstances.

If you have valuable items that cannot be replaced, you must keep them under lock and key. Items like passports, family photos, financial records, expensive jewelry and legal documents are best kept in a secure location. A fireproof floor safe is ideal for this. Or, a better idea, is to place them in a deposit box outside of your home.

When you don’t want to spend a lot on maintenance, go for a hard-wired system. A wireless system is handy, but the frequent battery changes can really amount to a large expense. If you neglect to change your batteries, the system can fail. Batteries can be very expensive to change.

Many people avoid the neighborhood busybody, but try getting on their good side. A busybody who likes you is sure to tell you about suspicious characters in the neighborhood. Stay on their good side and they will be sure to let you know if they see anything suspicious.

Set up a timer to turn your lights off and on at regular intervals. Not only does this save you a step, you can continue the routine even when you are not home.

Video surveillance systems do a great job deterring invaders. Most criminals are unable to conceal their identity for the entire crime; video surveillance is a valuable asset in preventing and convicting criminals. Most thieves won’t cover their faces simply because they don’t plan to run into anyone. Just seeing surveillance will often cause them to leave.

Don’t fool yourself into believing that only expensive homes are broken into. They rob any home they know they can get into, If you follow the tips written in this guide, you will surely be able to protect your house from unwanted intruders.

The right to own a gun is something that makes many people feel safe when it comes to potential intruders. If you own a gun, you should get professional training on its use. Simply knowing how to handle a gun can have you feeling more protected.