If you own valuable items, such as jewelry, art or money, don’t assume that you’re the only one that knows about it. Protect yourself from a burglar breaking in by improving your home security. Go over this article to find out how you can keep your home safe. Consider using your dog as a place
If you own valuable items, such as jewelry, art or money, don’t assume that you’re the only one that knows about it. Protect yourself from a burglar breaking in by improving your home security. Go over this article to find out how you can keep your home safe.
Consider using your dog as a place to store your spare key. This only makes sense if your dog is outdoors a lot or you have a pet door. Attach the spare key to your dog’s collar. By doing this, you have a handy spare key whenever you need it.
After getting a new home, make sure to change its locks. You simply do not know how many keys to the old locks are floating around. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Be sure to cal a locksmith if you were to lose your keys as well.
You can hide your spare key on your dog. This really only works if you’ve got an outdoor dog or if you’ve got a pet door. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!
Get rid of all of the dead wood and vegetation in your yard during the summer months. These can pose a fire hazard due to heat and storms with lightning. Keep your yard clear so it is a safe area.
Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Different companies can provide equivalent levels of service and security, but their prices can vary wildly. Obtain quotes from a minimum of three home security companies before making a final decision.
Motion-sensor lights can alert you of a robbery before it even happens. These lights will come on if someone walks near your home. They help notify you of any movement around your house and deter burglars too. Make sure you keep fresh light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they will work correctly.
Purchase ceiling, flooring and roofing that is fire resistant. This will make your home more safe, especially if you are in a dry climate that has many power lines. Lowering or eliminating the risk of a fire is an extremely important home security strategy because a fire can cause extreme destruction very quickly.
Walls are great for hiding things. Jewelry and other small items can be protected very well when placed in hiding places in your walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. If there are no unused plates, you can easily install fake ones.
You never want to open up a door to a stranger without proper identification. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them. Be sure that everyone in your home knows not to open the door to strangers and unexpected visitors.
You can hide certain valuables within your walls. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. Take a closer look at your walls and note just how many access points there are already. If you have an electric socket you do not use, hide valuables behind their covers.
In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Always clear the yard to ensure safety.
Don’t leave the packaging from any electronics or expensive purchases sitting on the curb until trash day. Having these boxes nearby can tell robbers what kind of merchandise you’ve got in your house.
Your flashlights should always be equipped with good, working batteries. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Make sure your whole family knows where to find them and how to operate them.
Determine what sort of home protection services or programs the local police department has to offer. Many police departments offer programs that can include home inspections, home security training and more. Call the local police department and inquire as to what programs they offer.
Before allowing anyone into your home, check their references carefully. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. You don’t know whether the contractor, maid, or repairman that you’ve hired is trustworthy and handing them your keys could be a costly mistake.
Try installing motion-sensor lights. They’ll flip on when people walk within a certain distance of your house. Not only will you know that someone is out there, it will also deter burglars because they want to be inconspicuous. Just remember that you must change the bulbs often in order to keep the lights working in order.
If you hire a security company, read any fine print. Sometimes, hidden costs can be incurred if you get rid of the service before a certain date. You want to try to avoid these fees whenever possible, so make sure you are aware of them.
Alter the combination of the locks in your home. 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.
Do your landscaping keeping safety in mind. Don’t provide burglars with cover by planting big shrubs in front of your doors and windows. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. If you want to have a garden around your home, keep trees and shrubs away from your house.
Be sure to secure the skylights to your home. Skylights have a good function, but unfortunately they also often provide a way for a burglar to enter. Check that skylights have heavy duty hardware that can stand up under unwanted tampering.
If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Many thieves sift through trash for personal info and to figure out when you plan to be away. You could also simply take care to tear up your discarded papers.
Don’t hide an extra key under a rock or in a planter. While you may need to prepare if you have a spare key, it is wise to choose ways that do not increase the risk of a criminal gaining entrance to your home. Thieves aren’t stupid and also know common hiding spots. Give it to a neighbor you trust instead.
Make sure that whoever is getting your mail while you are on vacation also retrieves any fliers left on the door. Some burglars place fliers to see if they’ll be quickly removed. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.
After bringing home a big-ticket item, such as an appliance or electronic device, avoid leaving the packages on the curb before trash day. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.
Don’t leave empty boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on your curb. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Remember to cut up or break down those boxes and take them to the recycling center.
Replace all locks in a new house. Even though the person who sold your home to you may seem honest, you simply can’t know for certain. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.
A dog is a great alarm system. Dogs naturally protect their homes and they make lots of noise when things go wrong. It is not necessary to have an aggressive dog. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.
You can add a great deal of security to your home by installing a system of motion activated exterior lighting. In the evening hours, this lighting can provide extra security and an economical way to light your front entrance way when you arrive. By carefully placing them around the outside of your property, you create a perimeter that cannot be breached.
Avoid making the password your birth date for numeric locks. A thief can easily find this information out. Think instead of a more creative way to keep track of your code.
Think about getting a home security system that is wireless. It may cost less to get a wired system; however, rewiring to accommodate the system may be difficult. Additionally, power outages may negatively impact your system. Wireless systems are much easier to install, and they can work independently of your home’s power.
If the living room window in your home has direct line of sight to the street, you’ll want to draw those curtains at night. You don’t want all the peeping Toms of the world looking in. If someone has the intention to burglarize your neighborhood, you would not want him to see your belongings and target your house. Keep your possessions out of the public eye to minimize your chances of becoming a burglary victim.
See if your security firm offers lighting that is motion-sensitive. A lot of companies provide this, and it makes the exterior lights in your home turn on immediately when someone approaches any entry way. You will find your entrances are well-lit and safe, as will intruders.
Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. This type of lock is extremely easy to break. Anyone with a credit card can do it. All they have to do is wedge the card between the latch and door, then wiggle it. If you’ve already got spring latch locks, you can put in a deadbolt for additional security.
A home alarm might be a good investment. The only way to ensure this is to use a system that calls the police for you. Don’t count on neighbors to hear the alarm and call the police.
Devote extra security to your irreplaceable possessions. Photos, passports, important documents and heirlooms should be kept where they can’t be stolen or damaged. Floor safes may come in handy for this purpose. You could also look into getting a bank safe deposit box.
Sliding glass doors are a big security problem in many homes. You can easily unlock them by shaking and lifting them. If you do not have a security system hooked up to them, cut a length of pipe to fit in the door channel. This keeps the door wedged closed so that it is harder to pry open.
If your family room window is facing the street, keep the curtains drawn every night. You shouldn’t be inviting people to look at your stuff through the window. A glimpse of tempting valuables may convince burglars that your home is worth a visit in the near future. Walk around your house to find out what can be seen and then block it.
Surveillance systems are your best bet for home security. We seldom see burglars wearing nylon stockings on their heads or ski masks in real life. The average burglar wants to avoid coming into contact with the homeowner or anyone else. If a surveillance system is clearly visible, they probably will leave.
If the door isn’t solid wood or metal, then replace it with a door that is. These doors will hold. A burglar could not kick a solid wood or a metal door. Replacing doors is not very expensive and should make a real difference.
Search for a company that offers you more than a simple security system. A great company will visit you at home and give you recommendations that will keep you and your family safe. These ideas may include installing additional locks, trimming bushes or installing windows that are more secure. You need to make sure they truly care about your home’s security so that they can talk about these items with you personally if they actually do.
Don’t assume you’ll never be the victim of a crime; be proactive about securing your home. 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.
Be sure to post a notice of your home security alarm system. Yard signs, window decals and noisy sound alarms are all better at keeping someone from ever breaking into your home. It will be too late if they don’t realize you have an alarm until after they’ve broken in your home.
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