Something terrible can occur when it is least expected. Make sure you look at your home security. Don’t put your family in unnecessary danger. Read on for great tips to make your home safer and to keep criminals from targeting you.

Your home should looked occupied all the time. Buy timers so things will go on and off at different times. In this way, it will always seem that someone is in your home. This will help safeguard your house to the best of your ability.

Your home should always look like it is occupied. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. This way it will always look as if someone is home, even when you are away. This is just one of the many precautions you can take to secure your home.

Why not give your trusted dog the job of holding onto your spare key? This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Attach the key to your dog’s collar, and it will be handy if you ever need a spare.

After you purchase a new home, change the locks. Many people may have been given keys by the former owner. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

If you need to leave a key for a maid service, make sure that that whoever cleans your house is professional and trustworthy. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Make sure you check references. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Do you allow your dog to stay in your yard while you are away? This pet may be an excellent storing spot for your spare key. Put it on their collar. If you have a pet that does not trust strangers, this can help you get into your house if needed.

Don’t let people into your home unless you know them. This includes a salesperson or people looking for help. Even home security representatives could be intruders who want to check the kind of protection you have.

Don’t just hide your spare key anywhere. Above a door frame or under a mat are not smart ideas. Think outside the box and put the key someplace unusual, like hidden in your dog’s collar.

Keep your car in your garage if you have one. If your car is locked up inside, it cannot be stolen or vandalized. It will also keep any intruders from knowing when you’re home.

Do not let people you don’t know in your house. Remember that intruders have a lot of experience with tricking people. Some people may simply be trying to determine whether or not you have a home security installed; if you don’t, they may plan to return later if you are away from your home.

Don’t throw away boxes for expensive or valuable items until the garbage collection day. You are alerting thieves that there is something worth stealing inside your home.

If your garage is attached to your house, make it secure. It is possible for an intruder to get in the garage and then gain access to the house; however, you can do something about it. Place a C-Clamp on the door track near the roller. This will prevent the door from lifting.

Check someone’s references carefully before letting them come into your home. Run a criminal background check on them, as well. You can never be certain if the contractor, repairman, maid, etc. that you hire to do services in your home is honest. If you let these people in without knowing anything about them, you could experience significant losses.

During the summer, remove all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These can be fire hazards and can cause damage to your home. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.

If you hire a security company, read any fine print. They sometimes have hidden costs if you let go of them prior to the contract expiring. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.

Use your garage for your car and not for storage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

When seeking out home security firms, the Internet is an indispensable tool. Many websites feature reviews, testimonials, and package details from home security services. After that, choose your top three for consultations.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. Perhaps you can use an old electricity socket as a place to hide your valuables.

Always keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars like the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Add lights to any areas you believe are potential entry points for burglars. This can include garages, doorways, porches, and even near any windows on the ground floor.

When deciding on an alarm system, be sure and get one that protects more than your doors. Thieves can easily enter your home through a window. You want to be sure that the alarm is connected to all windows and entry points. Doing this will help ensure the safety of your home and loved ones.

A paper shredder can be a good security investment. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. Cutting the papers into small pieces with a pair of scissors is another option.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.

Never keep the registration papers for your vehicle in your glove compartment. This isn’t smart because that information contains your home address. Keep them on you, or another place to hide them. They’ll always need to be close by in the event you get pulled over.

You need flashlights and plenty of batteries in each room just in case your power ever goes out. Flashlights are very important, as they will give you the ability to move around in the event of an emergency. Train kids how to use the flashlights so that everyone may contribute.

If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. You don’t need to have an invitation to people through your window. Burglars may see something valuable, which will tempt them to steal. Make sure and minimize what is visible to the public so as to reduce the likelihood of becoming a target.

Ask your home security company about coming to your residence and creating a system that is tailored to your personal needs. There are always going to be unique things about your home as well as your specific needs, so make sure you think about these things. When you don’t want to compromise in any way on the safety and security of your home, a custom-built system is usually the way to go.

Take to your security company, and find out if they have motion activated lights. A lot of them have this, and they cause outside lights to come on when people approach your home. This is a great way to protect the outside of your home.

It is very hard to predict criminal activities, so you never know when your home has become a target. You should take action to secure your family and your belongings. Keep these tips in mind when researching more about protecting your home from crime.

Having a burglar alarm is really good, but it is only good if the police is alerted when it sets 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 necessarily rely on the neighbors to call.