We have all heard horror stories about people's homes being robbed. Home invasions are not uncommon, and it's important to take certain precautions. People could break into your home any time. This article discusses strategies for increasing your home's security.
When getting a home security system, you need to consider if there has been one previously installed. If this is the case, you can actually have a cheaper or easier installation by choosing to go with what was done before. Remember that this can be a wired or wireless installation.
When you move into a new home change all the locks. Even though the previous homeowner may have given you keys to the house, there might be a key out there that someone has. To be sure you are as safe as possible, get all new locks for your new house.
If you are planning to be away for a while it is important to stop your paper delivery and put your mail on hold until you return. Newspapers piled up in your driveway or mail spilling out of your mailbox is a red flag that no one is home, and this leaves you vulnerable to thieves.
Be sure that your home security system has a panic button as well. The best of intruders sometimes have ways of getting into your home, even if you have the best system in place. Having a panic button in your bedroom is your best bet; authorities will be notified and will be at your house quickly.
You can hide things in your walls. This is a great way to hide jewelry, for example. Place them in switch plates, phone jacks or an electric outlet. If you have no unused plates, you can easily install false ones.
Lock your home at all times to err on the side of caution. It is more common than you would believe for a thief to find a home, try the door and walk right in when it's unlocked. A thief could steal all your valuables in only a few minutes.
Ask your alarm system if they provide separate entry codes for cleaning people or maintenance men. If they do, take advantage of this feature. In many instances, you can arm the system to allow entry with that code only at specific times of day. This will help prevent potential thieves from entering your house during the evening hours or at other times when they know you might not be at home.
If your alarm goes off frequently, get it fixed as soon as possible. If your neighbors think your alarm is always going off, they are unlikely to report it to the police. That means it could be a real break in, but no one will actually do anything about it.
Never rely on a spring-latch lock, instead have a deadbolt installed. Spring-latch locks are easy to get through with a simple credit card. Deadbolts can't be opened so simply and will thwart any burglar who attempts to get in. The cost of installing a deadbolt will be worth it in such a situation.
Leave your garage door closed, even if you are at home. A garage provides easy access into your home. Many people also store things of value in that space, making it attractive to intruders. Therefore, shut it whenever you are not outside in your yard. It is better to be safe than sorry.
If you want to keep your home safe when you are out and about, don't leave Spot out back. A dog in the house provides a foolproof security system as he will bark at anyone trying to get inside while you're out. Have your dog attend obedience classes to ensure he does the best job.
If you have pets then you might be leery about having a home security system installed, out of fear of the pets setting it off all the time. Discuss these concerns prior to purchasing a system, and a good company should be able to set your system to not be too sensitive.
Watch out for the home security company that tries to over sell everything to you. There are many offerings from home security companies, including video monitoring, keeping on eye on your home on your television, keyless entry and other such innovations. While all interesting, some might be more than you need. The salesman who tries to sell you everything under the sun is not really looking out for your best interest, and is likely looking at his own bottom line.
If someone comes to your door telling you that they represent a particular company, make sure that you ask them for some type of ID. It is very common for thieves to use tricks like this to gain access to your home. Also, keep people at the door and avoid letting them in.
Inquire about a home security company's licensing and professional affiliations before hiring them. Having a company that is professionally licensed and affiliated with a highly rated organization helps you to know that you are hiring someone who must uphold a certain level of quality. This means your home and family are safer.
Do you have a fence? If so, invest in a padlock for each gate that you have. Fences provide some measure of privacy, so if a burglar is simply able to walk through the gate, they may be able to break in your home from the back without being detected.
While posting photos of yourself on vacation to Twitter or Facebook may be nice, it is also an open invitation to crooks asking them to break into your home - after all, you're not there! Share your photos once you get back instead to ensure no one knows your house is vacant.
Don't think about home burglaries only occurring only at expensive homes. Thieves will hit any home that appears to be an easy target. If you follow the tips in this article and ramp up the security of your house, you can protect your home and family better from unwanted intruders.
Orignal From: Confused About Home Security? Get Some Clarity Here
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