It is likely that you know someone who has been burglarized at one time. There has been an increase in home invasions, making home security even more important than it ever has been. A home break in can happen in any location. The following article will provide you with some useful tips on home security.
Is your dog outside even if you are away? If so, you can use your dog to hide your spare key. Conceal it in the dog’s collar. This works very well if you have a pet that is not very fond of strangers. You will get the access you need without having to worry about your safety.
Provide the house key to your professional house cleaner, but only if you fully trust them. If you do give your housekeeper a key or plan on doing so, it is imperative that they are honest and upstanding. Check references thoroughly. If they work through a larger firm, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.
Buy a small home safe that you can use to keep your valuables in. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Conceal the safe in an out-of-the-way and not easily accessible spot, such as an attic or a basement area.
Turn off your phone’s ringer when you go on vacation. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.
Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. Try hiding the key in your outside dog’s collar.
Never open the door for a stranger. Criminals find ways to get people to open doors so they can commit crimes. Enforce a rule within your house that no one opens the door to unexpected people.
Do not forget to secure the garage attached to your home. People often worry about people getting in through attached garages, but you have a solution. If the garage door lifts via a track, you can use a C-clamp to stop your door from opening at the hands of intruders.
When summer comes around, eliminate all vegetation and dead wood from your yard. Due to the heat, these items in your yard are more likely to catch on fire. As a result, your home could be caught on fire. You can prevent disasters by keeping your yard clean.
Trust your instincts when it comes to hiring a home security company. This goes for the installer, too. You can decide to use a different company, or ask for a different person to install it. Remember, the new security apparatus is meant to make you feel safe and secure.
Be brave! Speak with your neighbors and friends in the area. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. It’s best to be in on any rumors in the area. You may find out helpful information about strangers lurking around.
Screen the references of anyone who would have access to your house. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. 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.
Install lights that have motion sensors. 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. However, make sure to put in fresh bulbs every now and then.
Be sure to read all of the fine print to any contracts you plan on signing for a security company. There may be hidden expenses involved if you terminate service before the contract term is up, and there may be added equipment fees. You can easily avoid these fees if you do your research.
You have a choice on who installs your security system, don’t be afraid to say no if something doesn’t feel right. This is doubly true when you feel unease about the installers. If you don’t feel comfortable, go with someone else. The purpose of using the company is to calm your uneasiness, not worsen it.
You can keep intruders away by always having your house lit up. That’s because they want to remain hidden. If your house is well-lit, criminals will be hard pressed to be able to go undetected. Keep the lights on if you want your home to be secure.
If you purchase big-ticket items, don’t throw their boxes in the trash before trash day. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.
When your door is found ajar when you get home, call the police. Keep in mind that intruders could still be inside. Instead, call the police to inform them of what happened, and wait on them.
Rotten wood on door and window frames needs to be repaired. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. When you see that wood is beginning to rot, replace it with new wood for better home safety.
A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. A wired system might cost less, but they can require extensive rewiring work and may be rendered useless if the power fails. Wireless systems are much more simple to install and upkeep, and the power inside your home will not affect them.
You should have several flashlights and batteries in all your rooms. Flashlights are critical, and provide you with the freedom to move about as needed. Make sure each member of your family knows where the flashlights are and how to operate them.
Get a paper shredder. You will be astonished at how burglars find important information from loose paper that they could use to break into your house. If you can’t afford to buy a paper shredder, tear your papers up into tiny bits before throwing them away.
If you hire a security company, read any fine print. You may find fees appear unexpectedly, including excessive costs for ending your contract early. If you can’t avoid these types of fees, you should at least be aware of them.
Does your security company offer leasing and buying? Buying will cost you more initially for the equipment, but will save you a monthly bill. Leasing is usually cheaper, but monthly fees can be high and you will need a contract. Investigate each option and determine which makes more sense.
One of the best things you can do to protect your home at night is to deter intruders with plenty of exterior lighting. These crooks do not wish to be noticed or seen. Making your home’s exterior nice and bright will make it impossible for crooks to go undetected. At night, keep your lights turned on to boost security.
Don’t put the registration to your car in your glove box. The reason is that anyone who sees them will immediately have your home address. Hide them somewhere else in the car, or carry them with you. However, make sure you have them in case you were to get pulled over by the cops.
Find out how long a company has been in operation before signing a home security contract. Companies who have been around for years will show that they have what it takes to succeed. In addition, it proves that they provide people with reliable services they can depend on. You get better peace of mind if you deal with someone you know you can trust for the long haul.
Never place a key in an obvious spot. Fake rocks are particularly simple to spot. The doormat is the first place someone will look. A friend or neighbor can be a much better key holder than an inanimate object. If you have no choice but to hide a spare key, apply some inventive, out-of-the-box thinking when you do it.
A wireless home security system could be just the option you are looking for. Wired systems might be a bit less expensive, but they often involve intrusive rewiring of your home, and can become faulty during a power outage. Wireless systems are easier to install and maintain, and they do not rely on the power in your home to work correctly.
Make sure your valuables, or things that can’t be replaced, are safe. Legal and financial documentation, IDs, pricey jewelry, and important mementos like family albums should be protected as carefully as possible. Floor safes are great for keeping these items inside the home. A better choice is storing them outside your home in a deposit box at the bank.
Consider buying a paper shredder for your home. You’d be shocked at how many times thieves search trash looking for personal documents to see when you’re not home so that they can get into your home. If you don’t have a paper shredder, tear the papers up.
If the living room window in your home is facing the street, you must keep the curtains closed. You want to avoid having people peek through the window. If thieves can see your things, they might think about paying you a visit. Walk around your house to find out what can be seen and then block it.
Spring Latch Locks
If your door is not made out of solid wood or metal, you should replace it. Doors made of these materials are sturdy. A would-be intruder will have much more trouble getting through one of these than a hollow door. You should be able to replace each of the exterior doors in your home for a minimal amount, so do so as soon as possible.
Don’t utilize spring latch locks. These locks are very easy to pick with something as common as a credit card. They can put the credit card in between the latch and door to open the lock. If you have already installed spring latch locks, consider adding a deadbolt for even more security.
Sliding glass doorways can pose security hazards. They are easily unlocked just by lifting and shaking. A pipe cut the right length should be wedged in the door if you have no security system. The pressure applied by the pipe provides added security and makes forcing a sliding door open a much less trivial matter.
Install a hard-wired system if you want to minimize maintenance costs. Wireless security systems are great, but need frequent battery changes. If you neglect battery changes, your system won’t work. Replacing batteries can get costly.
Women are more likely than men to be a target for burglary. This is especially true if they live on their own with children. Put large, muddy boots on the porch to give the illusion of having a man at home. This is one way to deter criminals from breaking into your home.
Sliding glass doorways can pose security hazards. They can be easily opened if someone lifts and shakes the door frame. Place a pipe in the door crevice to keep the door secure. Doing this will help keep your door closed tighter, making it more difficult for burglars to break in.
Even if the previous tenants of your home were nice people, you should still replace all of your locks and keys immediately. Even if you are renting, ask the landlord if you can pay to have the locks changed for safety.
Make friends with your neighbors. While much of the information these folks pass around is useless, they’re also the first to pick up on suspicious activity in the neighborhood. When you’re on good terms with them, you are more likely to receive word of any unusual activity.
Be very careful about what goes in your trash. If you bought something expensive, and you leave the boxes out for anyone to see, a burglar will probably target your home. Even if it’s only an appliance, a criminal sees someone who buys new appliances as someone who has money with a good house to burglarize.
Do not think that expensive homes are the only targets for burglars. 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.
Advertise the fact that your home is equipped with an alarm systmem. Put up a sign or a window decal so others know what you have. When they think your home has an alarm, they won’t even try to get in.
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