You may have never had your home burglarized, but no doubt you know someone who has. These situations are happening more and more frequently. All neighborhoods are targets for break-ins. This piece discusses measures you can take to boost security at home.
Setting off an alarm during a burglary is just one of the valuable functions a good security system can perform. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. 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.
Make sure to use caution when deciding if and where to hide an extra key outside of your home. Too many people put their extra key under the mat in front of their door; burglars know to check there. You could hide the key with your dog on the collar.
When you’re picking out home security equipment and services, don’t forget to ask your friends and family for help. You can learn a lot from people who have already dealt with these companies. Sometimes, you may get great advice from the people you know.
Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. They look great and provide light, but also are another access point. Use heavy-duty hardware to secure your skylights to the roof.
A secure hiding place can be created in a wall. Hide valuables inside of your walls. Use an old switch plate, outlet or phone jack. You can easily install fake unused plates.
You could hide some valuables within your walls. It is not necessary to cut out pieces from your wall. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.
It is important that you do not put expensive valuables in plain sight. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. If you’ve got street facing windows, be sure and keep them covered.
Make sure the wires of your home security system are completely hidden. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm. Don’t make it easy for an intruder, have the wires buried or hidden within the home’s walls. This can make you safer.
After making major (i.e. expensive) purchases, don’t dump the packaging out front if your next scheduled garbage pick-up is several days away. Letting such packaging sit out will signal to criminals that there are good things to be found in your house.
One relatively inexpensive way to add an extra layer of protection to your home is to install motion sensor lights for the exterior of your home. This is a fairly inexpensive way to provide light and security to your property. Positioned correctly, these lights can make it impossible for intruders to get on your property undetected.
If you’re hiring a company for home security, be sure to read any fine print before you sign that contract. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. You are going to want to avoid these kinds of hidden fees, so know about them up front.
Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.
If you purchase a new TV or computer, don’t leave empty boxes from your purchases on the curb. Burglars will instantly take notices of these boxes and what used to be in them, making you an easy burglary target. Break down the box, and take it to the local recycling center.
Dogs are an excellent way to protect your home. Dogs can be extremely protective of their space and are great at barking when something is afoot. You don’t have to have a huge, violent guard dog, though. Even tinier canines can ward off intruders with enough noise.
Do not keep the registration papers for your car inside the car’s glove compartment. This is not wise since anyone who has access to them will know where you live. You should carry them with you or find some other hiding place inside your vehicle. They’ll always need to be close by in the event you get pulled over.
Do not think that only wealthy people get robbed. Any home that can be broken into is a target. It is best to adopt good habits and invest in a quality home security system to keep your family safe.
