Creating a home that is safe can feel like a daunting task. But, it need not be time-consuming or costly. These tips will show you how easy and inexpensive it can be.

Create the illusion that your home is constantly occupied. Buy timers that will make your TVs, radios and other electronics turn on and turn off at various times. Potential intruders will stay away from your home if they believe someone is inside. This is a great way to keep your home safe and avoid burglaries.

A spare key must be carefully hidden and not in the obvious spots that a person might think. Never put a spare key under a doormat or above a door jam. One idea is to hide your key inside the collar of your outdoor dog.

Home security systems have additional features to just being noise alarms. Many systems sound an alert whenever people enter the house. This isn’t just for burglars; parents with young children can also use it as a valuable tool to know when their child has come inside.

If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

Turn off ringers on land line phones while you are on vacation. If your phone rings and is not being answered, criminals will realize that you’re away.

Don’t open your door for strangers. Criminals can be endlessly inventive when it comes to generating a convincing story to force their way into your home. No matter how sympathetic the story, remember that it could all be a put-on. Only open the door for people you are expecting.

Check with your local law enforcement agency about home protection plans. They often offer home inspections, seminars and even the ability to purchase items. Get in touch today.

Make your home safer by storing your car inside the garage. This will help to keep your vehicle safe. This will also make it more difficult for burglars to track when you away from home.

Do not be shy. Speak to your neighbors. Keep an eye on their houses and yards and request that they return the favor. Don’t ignore any gossip either. You may end up hearing about things such as odd folks roaming about the neighborhood.

Make sure to have your home inspection system maintained on at least an annual basis. Ask a home security employee to give it a look. Mother nature can sneak in and cause many problems. If you don’t see the problem, you may remain unaware of it.

If you live more out in the country, you may think that you’re not at risk. People who live in the country may even be more vulnerable because they do not have nearby neighbors. You need to do some research on the areas where you live to get an idea of how frequent break ins are.

You should not be shy. Speak to your neighbors. Watch out for their homes, and ask them to do the same for you. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. This might provide you with some valuable information, at times related to security, including information about potential strangers who you might not want near your home.

If you’ve recently moved into a house, get any locks changed out. You really don’t know much about the people who sold you the home, regardless of how competent they may seem. And, other people could have lived in the home previously to them as well.

Motion Sensors

Are you aware that the wires located on the exterior of your house have value? Many people are not aware of this until they are stolen from their home. The copper in the wiring is valuable and can be stripped off of the outside of the home in a relevantly short period of time. Hide the wiring and make it harder to access to prevent this from happening.

Install lights that have motion sensors. The motion sensors turn on the lights whenever anyone approaches your home. This lets you know something is moving and also drives off criminals. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.

When a security company wants in your home ask for an ID and see if they’re in uniform. Posing as a security professional is an excellent way for an experienced thief to get inside your house and plan a less-friendly return visit. This puts your household and valuables at considerable risk. You want to use caution to prevent danger.

Your risks of being the target of home intruders really doesn’t depend on the area in which you live. Some people think that country folk are mainly targeted since they don’t have nearby neighbors. Others hold that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.

Safety should be kept in mind when you are planning your landscape. You should not let plants and shrub block your doors and windows. Keeping these features free of vegetation robs would-be burglars of concealment and hiding places. Landscaped features should be set further away for safety, yet keeping beauty in mind.

Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are a wonderful addition to any home, but they also tend to be weak spots that intruders take advantage of. Make sure your skylights have reliable, heavy duty hardware in place.

Invest in a high quality paper shredder. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. If you can not afford to purchase a paper shredder, just rip the paper into smaller pieces.

No matter how soon you plan to return home, you should lock your doors. Many home thefts start with the thief simply walking in an unlocked door or window. A thief can steal lots of stuff in a little amount of time.

Put up video surveillance. Having visible or hidden cameras can help immensely. Intruders will stay away from your home if they notice cameras and hidden cameras can help identify intruders if they disable the most visible cameras. You can often view these feeds over the Internet, too.

With these tips in mind, you’re ready to be more secure. Start the change today. Soon your home will make you feel safe no matter what hour it is. You will soon be relaxed.

If you just purchased electronics, do not leave empty boxes outside. Don’t advertise that you have expensive new equipment! Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.