If your home contains precious possessions, such as jewels, art or cash, don’t think only you know about it. Guard against burglaries by bolstering your security strategy. Read the following article for some great tips on how you can make your home more safe and secure.

It is crucial that you change the locks as soon as you move into a new residence. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Contact a locksmith to make sure that only you have access to your home. You should also do this if your keys ever get lost.

If you want to have a spare key close to your house in order to prevent lockouts, make sure you give its hiding place some careful thought. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. A possible solution is to attach a key to your outdoor dog’s collar.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Under the doormat or above the door frame are all too common spaces that will be checked first by potential intruders. One good place to hide a spare key is in the collar of a dog that does not take kindly to strangers.

When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. Most will be willing to share their likes, loves and loathes, especially as they realize how important it is to you. Ask around so you’ll have as much advice as you need in order to make a sound decision.

Be sure to secure your attached garage. Many people worry about burglars getting into their attached garage and then entering their home, but there is a fix. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.

During summer, remove your landscape’s dead vegetation and wood. As it gets hotter, the chances of these igniting and putting your house at risk increase. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. It is not expensive and you can do it in less than a day.

Local Police Department

Always lock your home when you leave it, no matter how soon you plan to return. Surprisingly, lots of burglaries occur because the burglar was able to simply walk in without having to actually break in. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.

Talk to your local police department about what they offer. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Contact your local police department to find out if they offer this type of program.

Are you aware of the fact that your home wiring is worth money? A lot of people don’t realize this fact until a robber steals it from their home. The wiring has copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.

You need to go with your gut instinct when it comes to negotiating and dealing with a home security installation company. This is definitely the case if you’re not quite sure about the actual installation people. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. The point of that system is to feel safer after all.

One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. Motion detection lights will turn on as soon as something or someone enters your yard. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.

Keep valuables hidden within the walls. You don’t have to cut out pieces of the wall to do this. Many spots are already cut that can be used for this purpose. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.

An important part of vetting any security company before you sign a contract with them is finding out how long they’ve been providing security services in your community. Companies that have been around for awhile show that they can provide reliable support. Knowing that you are dealing with a shady company can keep you calm when making this crucial decision.

Regardless of how long you think you’ll be gone, make sure to lock your doors. Most burglars gain entry to a home through an unlocked door. It does not take a long time for a robber to pilfer items worth thousands of dollars.

For maximum safety, your home needs bright exterior lighting. Burglars like committing crimes in the darkness. Install lights in areas that possible criminals can use to enter your home. This will include doorways, porches, your garage, and ground floor windows that criminals can use.

When selecting a home alarm system, choose one that protects many areas of your home, not just the doors. All of your windows are possible entry points for a thief too. Attach the alarm to each window and ask for monitoring for them. With this method, your family will be safer.

Invest in a good paper shredder. Unshredded documents can offer up a wealth of valuable personal information to thieves, including enough of your schedule to allow them to pinpoint the best time for a burglary. If you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.

If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. You have no way of knowing whether the previous homeowner is trustworthy. Keep in mind that other people may have lived in the home prior to the seller.

A dog is an excellent burglary deterrent system. Man’s best friend is very territorial and makes a lot of noise during anything happening out of the ordinary. It doesn’t even have to be a big tough dog. Even tiny dogs that make a ton of noise will deter a potential crime.

Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. They will help you get around in case your entire home is dark. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. There are sure to be both good points and bad points about each option. A long term contract should have a lower monthly rate but it also requires you to commit for a long period of time. A short contract will avoid this, but may be more costly.

Carefully check the references of everyone before allowing them to enter your home. Check if they have any history of criminal activity. You never know if the maid, repairman or contractor you hire is on the up and up, and letting them in or giving them a key could be a fatal mistake.

When you’re not in your house, all of the window coverings (blinds, curtains, shades, or what have you) should be tightly shut. Intruders can see into your home if they are left up. If they spot an item they’re interested in, they will most likely try to enter. At night when you’re asleep, you should close your shades.

Having your house lit up during the night is a good way to scare intruders. That’s because they want to remain hidden. A well-lit home is like a red flag to a burglar. Keep lights on during the night.

Talk to your home-security company to see if they provide buy and lease options for your equipment. It might cost more at first when buying the equipment, but you don’t have the extra cost each month. Leasing usually proves cheaper at first, but it comes with strings attached through contracts or continuing fees and charges. Think about both options before making a decision.

Your home’s exterior needs to be well lit. It will be easier for intruders to keep an eye on you and approach your home if they can hide in the dark. So it’s smart to put a light in typically darker corners around your home. This includes doorways, windows, and your garage.

Don’t hide keys in obvious areas. Fake rocks are easy to spot. Doormats and rocks in front of the house are too obvious. A safer option is entrusting a neighbor or one of your most trusted friends to keep your spare key. If you cannot do that, try to be creative when it comes to hiding places.

You should not enter your home if you find the door ajar. The thief may remain inside. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

Many people avoid the neighborhood busybody, but try getting on their good side. They will be the first one to notice any strangers lurking near your home. If you are friendly with them, it increases the chances of them alerting you right away.

Make sure that whoever is getting your mail while you are on vacation also retrieves any fliers left on the door. Some intruders will place a flyer at your home to see if the flyer is removed immediately or not. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

You must always keep second-floor windows locked. Many people think a criminal won’t check them. Burglars watch for open second story windows. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.

The glove compartment is bad place to store important documents like your car’s registration. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. Keep them on you, or another place to hide them. They must still be easily accessible should you be stopped by police.

It is better to buy your home security system directly from the security company instead of from a dealer. Resellers are interested in profits, not continued long-term service relationships. Dealing with the company directly can help ensure that your system will be installed and serviced correctly.

If you have an established routine for turning your lights on and off, consider investing in a timer. This is quite convenient because you won’t need to turn the lights off and on, and you won’t need to worry if you go away for a spell.

Your external wiring can be an easy target for thieves and burglars. Electrical wires contain copper, which is extremely valuable. Hiding wiring is a good way to prevent copper thieves from hitting your property.

Instead of thinking that your house will never be threatened by a criminal, always prepare for the worst. You do not need to live in fear, but you must be cautious. Put the tips from the article to good use and protect your family and home.

If you have air conditioners in your windows, make sure they are securely screwed in or have bars around them. You don’t want to give a burglar easy access into your house by simply removing your air conditioner and slipping in through the window. Window units should be removed entirely in the colder months (when they’re not needed) so that your home stays as secure as possible.