It is likely you know of someone who has been the victim of a burglary at some point. There has been an increase in home invasions, and folks need to take extra caution when it comes to securing their homes. Burglaries can happen anywhere. The following article will provide you with some useful tips on home security.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Be sure to check out the background of any housekeeper you plan to provide with a key to your home. Carefully check their references. If the house cleaner is employed by a company, check with the BBB of your area to determine their reputation.

Does your dog stay outside while you are gone? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. Secure the key on the inside of the dog’s collar. This is the perfect place to store a spare key, especially if your dog doesn’t care for strangers.

Good home security systems sound a loud alarm when breached, and that’s not all. Modern systems are often capable of detecting any open door or window and announcing that fact. This is a good way to keep track of where your young children are.

Home security systems have different kinds of features that can sound an alarm when someone breaks into your house. They often even alert you to any time a door is opened. This is important if you have small kids.

Don’t let strangers enter your house. Be wary of those who come to your door selling products, asking for help, or telling sob stories. Some people want to enter your home just to see if there is a security system in place. They may be scoping the place to come back when you’re gone.

Look at the prices for all of the security systems that you are interested in. Some companies offer comparable levels of protection that can be priced very differently. Get quotes from several companies before making a decision.

In the summer, remove vegetation and dead wood from your yard. These are vulnerable to fires and put your home in danger. Clearing your yard keeps your home, belongings and family much safer.

Aim to purchase fire-resistant ceilings, roofs and floors. This can provide additional safety to the home, particularly in dry regions. Preventing a fire hazard is one of the safest precautions that you can take due to the level of destruction that it can cause.

See if your local police department offers any home inspection or other protection programs. They may offer things such as home inspections, engraving tool loans, and other guidance about securing your house. Get in touch today.

If you do not know the person at your door, don’t open it. People you do not know could have bad intentions or want to get an idea of how many valuable objects you own. Make it a habit to only open your home’s door to people you were expecting.

Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, be sure to have regular inspections and maintenance performed. This is a job for professionals; get a security firm to inspect your equipment. There are many things that can be problematic with regards to home security systems, like wayward wild animals and the environment. You may not know there’s an issue if you can’t see it.

Local Police

Changing your locks first can help make your home much more secure. Not everyone who leaves your house will leave happy, and a fresh set of locks will protect you from both former residents and acquaintances of your own looking to cause mischief. It is inexpensive, and most locksmiths will be available for next day appointments.

Contact the local police department to find out more about the protection programs they offer. There are plenty of things that can be done, from a safety walk to cataloging expensive items to help protect your investment and your family. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they’re available in your area.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Your skylights need durable and reliable hardware for true protection.

If you’ve got a garage, make sure to use it for your car rather than extra storage space. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.

A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. You should think about hiding certain small valuables within your walls. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. If you do not have any unused plates, it is easy to install a false one.

You can hide things in your walls. You can hide small, valuable items inside the walls of your home. Just use an unwired electric plug, light switch or phone box. If you use all of them, you can always have fake ones installed.

You can hide certain valuables within your walls. This doesn’t necessarily involve chopping up your walls, either. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. For instance, consider using an electricity socket that is unused, and stash your precious jewelry in there.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. It may shock you to know this, but a lot of intruders get inside homes through open doors. It doesn’t take long for a thief to steal thousands of dollars worth of stuff.

If you have just bought any pricey new goods, never toss the boxes onto the curb prior to the garbage man’s arrival. These types of items are appealing to thieves, and you may as well put a sign in your yard inviting them to steal yours.

You want an alarm system that protects more than your doors. Burglars often enter through windows as well. Therefore, ensure the windows have an attached alarm. All potential entry points should have an alarm. This is vital to keeping your family safe.

Make sure you have several flashlights that are charged and ready to go in the event of a power outage. Power outages are common to all sorts of emergency situations, so having flashlights handy will enable you to maneuver in the dark. Show your children how to use them so everyone in the family is involved.

Be sure to replace all of the old locks as soon as you move into a new domicile. While the person that previously had the home may seem okay, you don’t know who they actually are. Don’t forget that there were likely other owners and residents in the house before the last set.

If you plan to be away and you have another person collecting your mail, have them double check your front door for fliers. Burglars often put fliers on the door to see if the owner removes them. If the fliers isn’t removed, the criminal knows that no one is home.

The Internet is your friend when searching for a home security company, so you should use it wisely. Browse through different websites and seek out customer reviews about different services and packages. Also find other companies to get quotes from as well.

Don’t fit your exterior doors with locks of the spring latch variety. These locks are easy to break into since they may be opened up with a credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. If your doors sport spring latch locks, add deadbolts to beef up security.

Consider home security and safety when you are planning your landscaping. Windows should be free from obstructions like trees, shrubs and fencing. If they are visible, people won’t be able to hide there while trying to break in. Put these features at a greater distance from your house; let beauty also complement safety.

When you aren’t home, be sure to close your blinds, curtains or shades. Leaving the curtains up invites people to peer into your living room. They may break in if they see things they like. You should have the windows covered when you’re asleep.

Make sure the outside of the house is well lit. Criminals love darkness to help mask their crimes. Install lighting anywhere a possible intruder might break in. This includes doorways and porches, the garage, and windows on ground floors which may invite intruders.

You should never use your birthday as the password for your numeric keypad. Your birthday is easy to obtain, and you don’t want your house to be easily accessible. Use a random number instead.

When standing in the street, can you see your house numbers? If you have an emergency, it will be hard for the police to find your house quickly if your numbers are hidden or too small to read. Fortunately, it doesn’t require much to fix this problem.

If you always turn your lights on or off at the same time, use a timer. The automatic timer will keep the lights going on and off on schedule, so a thief will not be able to tell when you are away. Even when you are at home, the timer is convenient because it saves you from having to remember to turn on the lights.

Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home from intruders. Dogs protect your home by barking if something is wrong. A dog with a vicious attitude and large size isn’t necessary. Even the barking of a tiny dog can repel potential burglars, who want to avoid noises as they carry out their crimes.

Is your door made of solid wood or metal? If not, then replace it. Those materials will hold. This makes it much more difficult for a burglar to kick in the door and break in. It’s a good idea to replace all your exterior doors with more secure ones. It really doesn’t cost a lot.

Ask about the different contract durations that a security company can offer you. There are benefits and drawbacks to each. Long contracts may cost less each month, but it could leave you with a larger bill if you decide to end your service. A shorter term allows for flexibility, but it might be expensive.

Women living alone or with just children are targeted more often than others. Make it seem as if there is a man living in your home by putting large mud boots on your porch and a man’s hat in your car. This will definitely deter criminals from entering your home.

Avoid thinking that burglaries only happen to expensive houses. The houses most often broken into are those that are easy to break into. If you use the advice mentioned in this article, you can help protect both your home and your family.

Obviously, owning a big dog that has a frightening bark has its benefits. Burglars would not want to deal with potentially being bitten or attacked. If you own a dog, it can double as a playmate or companion and a security benefit.