Bad things happen to the best people, and they can happen to you at the most unpredictable times. Do not endanger your family by falling short on safety. Read the tips here if you want to make your home safe and free of criminals.
Your faithful dog makes a great hiding spot for a spare key. Outdoor dogs or pet doors make this possible. Place the alternative key on your dog’s collar in case of an emergency.
You should always change the locks after purchasing a home. You’re not aware of any copies that have been made by the previous owners of the house. To make sure no one else can get into your home, call a locksmith. Do the same thing if you happen to misplace a key.
Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Ask for references and check them thoroughly. If you hire a cleaner who works for a company, speak with your local BBB about the company’s reliability.
Do you have an outside dog? You might consider leaving your spare key with your dog. The key can be attached to the collar of your dog. This will ensure that burglars cannot see it. This is very effective if your pet is afraid of strangers; therefore, burglars are not very likely to notice the key.
When you’re going away, turn off your phone ringers. If the phone continues to ring while you’re gone, this lets an intruder know that the home is empty.
You should never open your door to someone you do not know. There are people who are going to be convincing, but they can just be professional thieves. Establish a rule where you and your family only open the door for expected visitors.
Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. Intruders could easily break into your garage and access your home. You can use a C-clamp to secure the door and prevent it from being opened by strangers.
Always go with your gut when it comes to choosing a security firm. This is especially true if you are uneasy with those who are installing the actual system. Never be afraid to ask for a new installer or to get an entirely new firm. You want the system to make you feel like you’re more comfortable.
Place your valuables in cut-outs in your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. Instead, you can use the small spaces that are already there. How about unwiring your electric socket and using that as an area to stash your jewelry?
Do not let people on the street see valuable items in your home. Open curtains allow people to see inside your home and see exactly what you have. Windows facing the street need to be covered to keep inside possessions safe.
If your door is set in a rotted frame, you must replace the frame. If a person wants to enter your home, rotted wood can easily be pried away. Always replace rotting wood with fresh wood immediately to keep your house strong and secure.
Personal Information
If you do not already have a paper shredder, you may want to think about investing in one. Thieves can often be found looking through garbage cans in search of personal information found on bills and credit card slips. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
You don’t need to rely on keys to prevent entry to certain areas of your home. Keyless locks require a code to unlock the door. You can install them yourself, or you can have a home security service install them.
Don’t have spring latch locks installed. These locks can be opened easily with a credit card. Intruders simply use a credit card inside the latch, making the lock open. A deadbolt should be added for security purposes if you have locks that are spring latch.
Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. If someone steals your car, this will tell them where you live too. Keep them on you, or another place to hide them. Make sure you can easily and quickly access them in the event that a police officer pulls you over.
There is no telling when an intruder may break into your home. Rather than hoping you wont be targeted, you should take active steps to prevent it from happening. The information you’ve just reviewed can be a vital first step in improving the security of your home.