If you have valuables like jewelry, art or lots of money, don’t assume that only you know about it. Improve the security of your home to prevent burglary. Keep reading for ideas on making your home safe and secure.

Why not give your trusted dog the job of holding onto your spare key? This is a great idea if your dog is outside all the time, or they can get out through a doggy door. 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.

Do you have an outside dog? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Conceal it in the dog’s collar. If your dog doesn’t like strangers, it’s even better.

Be sure you have secured your attached garage. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. However, you can use a C-clamp to help keep the door secure.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. If the phone rings without you there, burglars will suspect that you’re not home, and that can make your home a target for an attack while you’re gone.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

Your garage needs to be secure. There is a solution for people that are worried about burglars going into their home through an attached garage. Get a C-clamp to secure your garage door if it is mounted on a track.

Use exterior lights that have motion sensors. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. Remember that the bulbs need to be changed so that the lights keep working.

Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great idea. When a person approaches your home, the lights will blaze. Then you will know someone is present, and if the person is a burglar, he or she will be very likely to turn around and leave. Don’t forget to replace the bulbs when they burn out.

Switch your locks. If you have boarders, former live-in partners, or others who once had access to your home, this is especially important. It is usually inexpensive and can be done in less than 24 hours.

When it comes to securing your home, start by changing your locks. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. It is generally cheap and may be done in a little under a day.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. Intruders could use skylights to enter your home. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Some think residents of the country are even more vulnerable because there are no close neighbors. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

Always lock your home, regardless of how short your trip out is. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. Thieves can steal thousands worth of your belongings very quickly.

Use your walls as hiding spaces. Don’t make it obvious by cutting out big chunks of drywall. Many places around your house have areas that are already pre-cut. For example, you could take the wiring out of an electric socket that is not in use and put your valuable jewelry in there.

While an alarm system or other security measures can make your home much safer, you must be sure that your security wiring isn’t exposed. An intruder can cut the wires or disconnect them and avoid the system. To provide maximum security, wiring should be laid underground or installed safely within the walls of your house. It will keep your family safer.

Don’t assume you’ll never be the victim of a crime; be proactive about securing your home. Never live in constant fear, but take precautionary steps. These tips can put your family in the safest position possible.

If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.