You have probably had friends and acquaintances who have been burglarized. These situations are happening more and more frequently. People could break into your home any time. This article discusses what you are able to do to enhance your home’s security.

Always have the locks changed when you buy a new home. You don’t know who might have a key. Call a locksmith to make sure you’re the only one with access to your home. You should also have your locks changed if you lose your keys.

Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This will give your home the appearance of someone being there. That means burglars will pass right by.

Home security plans have other features along with an alarm that goes off during a break-in. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. For families with young children, this is excellent for alerting when a child has entered or left the house.

Compare different systems when looking into home security. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get quotes from several companies before making a decision.

Home security systems offer additional features besides loud alarms during a break-in. Most systems can be set to sound an alert when anyone enters the home. This is a valuable safety feature for parents of small children since they know if their child has exited the home.

Don’t let everyone in your social network know that you are leaving the home unprotected for your vacation trip; especially the people who you aren’t familiar with. While you may want to shout it from the rooftops, you’re letting everyone know that your home will be vacant and easy to rob.

Before agreeing to work with a security company, check with your friends and family for recommendations. They have likely had interactions with home security providers that they can tell you about, saving you time and stress. Do your research; it will help you make a good decision in the end.

Do not post on your social media accounts regarding when you will be away on vacation. While it is exciting to go to a new place and have a good time, you are letting thieves know that your house will be empty and they can come right in.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. It is essential you do not do this, even if the stranger gives you a convincing story or states they need your assistance. There are some people who will just come in to see if you have a home security system, and if you do not, they could come back later when you are not home.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look. There are quite a few things that can negatively impact the effectiveness of home security equipment. For example, adverse weather conditions or pests such as raccoons can cause problems. If you cannot see a problem, you might not know one exists.

Shut off phone ringers inside the home if you’re going to be gone for quite a while. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. Nonetheless, people in the country may be at greater risk due to being far away from neighbors. That said, stranger things have happened.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Be certain to have skylights that incorporate strong, durable hardware.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. Make it a rule in your home that you only open your door to people who you were expecting.

Walls can be a great hiding spot. If you have small valuables you want to protect, consider hiding them inside your walls. All you have to do is place them behind any unused phone jack, electrical outlet or switch plate. If you haven’t got any plates that are unused, simply install a false switch plate.

Hide valuables in spaces in your walls. You do not have to damage your walls to keep your valuables safe. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. Perhaps you could deactivate a few unused electrical sockets to use as a place to store stuff.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. These programs may include engraving identification codes on your valuables, home inspections, and advice about home security. Your police department will be able to help you find out what is available in your town.

Lock up your house every time you leave. Most real-world burglars aren’t master lock-breakers; they simply stroll in through a door left carelessly unlocked. A thief can steal your most valuable possessions in a short amount of time.

Burglaries happen in middle and lower class neighborhoods, too. Any home that can be broken into is a target. Follow the advice below to make sure your house and family are safe and secure.

Try installing motion-sensor lights. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. They will notify you of any movement and can deter any possible burglars since they like remaining inconspicuous. Just remember and change out the light bulbs whenever necessary.