To make educated decisions regarding the security of your home, you need to have a grasp on all the information available. This is not a decision to make casually. It is important to review your options and do what you can to protect your family.

Make sure your home appears 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.

Do you keep your dog outdoors when you go out? Store the spare key with them. Attach the key to the dog’s collar so that it is hidden from view. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

You can hide your spare key on your dog. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Place a spare key on the collar, and when you really need a spare, you know where to go!

When planning to go away for a holiday, be sure to turn off the ringers on your home phones. A constantly ringing phone can signal to a burglar that the house is vacant, making it an easy target for their criminal activities.

Do you let your dog outside when you leave the house? He or she is actually a great place to store your spare key. Find a place to securely fasten the key to your pet’s collar where it’s not visible. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Never open up your door to a stranger. People try many ways to convince others to open up their doors so that they can commit burglary or worse. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.

Ask friends for some advice before choosing home security companies and systems. Others may have had bad and good experiences that they share with you so that you may be able to save time and stress. Keep asking to get the advice that will help you make the right choice.

You need to be sure the attached garage of yours is secure. There is a way to stop thieves from entering your home from the garage. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. Stay true to your safety, even if it appears the person has legitimate reasons for wanting entry. It’s quite possible that your charming guest is only interested in evaluating the security of your home; if they find it lacking, they may be back later to relieve you of some of your possessions.

Install motion-sensor lights. These kinds of lights will pop right on when they detect motion near your home. You will be alerted to movement, but most importantly, it will deter burglars or at least make you aware of their presence. Be sure to keep these lights working, though.

In the summertime, you should rid your yard of dead bushes and vegetation. This sort of thing is a fire hazard in the heat of summer. Keep these cleared away regularly to maintain your home’s safety and to keep it in good shape.

Understand certain safety precautions when it comes to having skylights for your home. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. Be sure that the skylights for your home are durable and reliable.

Switch your locks. It might be that you have an angry ex-roommate or a bitter ex-partner, so changed locks will boost your security. Changing the locks can typically be done very cheaply and quickly.

Keep valuables out of sight of windows. It may be great to have large windows with a view, but this means that people can look in. By reducing visibility into your home, you protect your belongings, safety, and you improve the interior beauty of your home.

If you have skylights, do not neglect them when making sure your home is secure. While they are an excellent source of natural light, they are also an easy way for thieves to enter your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.

Even if you only plan to be gone for a very short time, lock your house. Break-ins are often the result of unlocked windows and doors. It does not take long for thieves to steal your expensive stuff.

Were you aware of how valuable your house wires are? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. Wiring can be removed from the outside of a home in a heartbeat. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access to keep this valuable property safe.

When moving into a previously owned home, change the locks. The person who used to live there may still have a key. You can change the locks yourself if you’re feeling really industrious.

You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. Flashlights are important for letting you navigate your home in the dark. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Before letting someone from a security company into a house, get some sort of official identification. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. Use caution to stay out of danger.

You can make your home safer by investing in some motion detectors and outside lights. These lights are not only handy when you get home late, they also help deter criminals from entering your home. When placed appropriately, no one will be able to break in unannounced.

Landscape around your home with an eye to safety. Your doors and windows should not be obstructed by shrubs or fences. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Put landscaping farther away from the house for greater safety.

As you work on your home’s landscape, don’t forget about safety. Do not obstruct doors and windows with plants or furniture. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.

Invite a security company to come to your house and figure out a system that will work for you. Different people require different plans. A good company will tailor your security plan to the needs of you and your family.

Consider your personal needs for safety and your security risks prior to looking for security systems. Some systems aren’t necessary for some, while others may have a need for them. You could, for instance, invest in an alarm system, some outside lights, adopt a dog or take some self-defense classes. You need to assess risks and choose a system adapted to the kind of situations you are likely to run into.

If you purchase a new, pricey electronic like a TV or computer, don’t leave the empty box near your curb. When burglars see these boxes, they will know you have them inside your home, making it more likely for them to break in. Cut the box up and hide the writing when you put it out.

In the event you find your door open upon arriving home, you should never enter and investigate yourself. This can be quite dangerous because the burglar may still be on your property. Instead, wait outside until the police come, after calling them on your cell phone.

Spring Latch

Get a paper shredder. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. Rip important documents in small pieces before throwing them away if you do not have a paper shredder.

Don’t utilize spring latch locks. Just one credit card can get a burglar access to your home. This isn’t a difficult maneuver either. Put in a deadbolt for more security if your doors already contain spring latch locks.

Make sure your address numbers are clearly visible from across the street. If your house numbers are not easy to see, the police may have difficulty finding you in an emergency. There is a cheap and quick fix if you see an issue.

If your door has a numeric lock, make sure the combination isn’t your birthday. Your birthday can be found on mail or social media sites, so this means anyone can access your home. Rather, try and make your combination the answer to an equation so that you only need to remember an equation instead of an actual series of numbers.

If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You could install these locks yourself. Or, you may have a security company to do it for you.

Using a timer is a great way to make it seem as if you are home when you are on vacation. A timer will turn your lights on and off randomly and functions whether you are home or not.

Figure out if motion sensitive lighting is an option for your home by talking to your home-security company. This system will cause the lights to flicker on when someone walks up to your home. This provides additional protection for you when you come home after dark, and can also prevent a burglary.

Secure your true valuables in an area that is as safe as possible. Important legal documents and passports, family photos, expensive jewelry and financial records should always be protected. A floor safe could be a good place for you to keep these things inside your house. Safety deposit boxes are another great idea.

A lot of people try avoiding the neighborhood gossip. Try to listen to them when you need to. If there are unfamiliar people hanging around, the busybodies in your neighborhood will notice. When you’re on good terms with them, you are more likely to receive word of any unusual activity.

A home alarm investment is well worth the money, provided someone contacts 911 when it is set off. The smart thing to do is to get an alarm that is centrally monitored. That way, the police will definitely show up if it sounds. You can’t always trust just the noise from the alarm to scare off the intruder.

You should lock all your windows, even on the second floor. This is most often overlooked by a lot of people due to the fact that they don’t think a burglar will check them. However, this isn’t always true. This is something that is a weak area, and criminals will go right to them.

You should now be much more knowledgeable on the topic of home security. You don’t want to walk into your decisions blindly. You want to be sure that you’re putting your family’s safety in its prioritized spot. Keep the tips that have been discussed here in mind as you move forward.

Women living alone or with only children are easy targets for home invasion. Therefore, consider putting large boots on the front step of your home to make burglars believe a manly man lives in the room. This keeps those criminals away for sure.