You might know someone personally who has been the victim of a home broken into. Home invasion cases are going up, so people should be extra vigilant about protecting their home. This article goes into detail about how you are able to do to enhance your home’s security.
Always change the locks after moving into a new home. The previous owners or tenants might have made several copies of the key. To make sure you are the sole person with access to the home, engage the services of a locksmith. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.
Above a door frame or under a mat are much too common to hide them and potential criminals will check them first. One good place to hide your key is in the collar of your outdoor dog.
Don’t give the keys to your home to a professional cleaner unless you trust them completely. Only select service people who are totally trustworthy. Check their references fully. If you are using a cleaning firm, make sure it has an excellent Better Business Bureau rating.
Do not invite strangers into your house. Even if this stranger has a believable story or is trying to sell you something, they need assistance or want to sell you something.This person might just be casing the first rule of keeping your home secure.
Invest in a safe in order to secure very valuable items. You can’t have your valuable personal items and jewelry out in the open for anyone to see. This safe should be hidden in a location where burglars won’t find it, such as a hole in the wall, the attic, or a basement closet.
Police Department
Changing the locks is a fundamental part of adding security to the home. As time passes, keys end up getting into the wrong hands. It shouldn’t cost too much, and the process can be completed very quickly.
See what your local police department offers in terms of home security programs. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, home security training and more. Contact the police department to find out if they have something similar.
If you’ve got skylights, don’t forget about it when it comes to home security. While they are nice and help with lighting, they also provide the burglars help with access to your home. Having heavy duty, reliable hardware is best when it comes to skylights.
Regardless of the type of home security system you choose, you need to have it checked each year. Ask a home security systems to take a look. You may not even discover these problems if they aren’t easily sighted.
You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You do not have to cut pieces out of the walls to do this. There are lots of places around the home that have pre-cut areas that you can use. An unused outlet can be taken apart, and the space used to create a tiny hidden safe.
Make sure that none of your valuables can be seen from outside the home. Large windows let in light and give you a great view outside, but it can make it easier for criminals to see inside.
You never want people to be able to see your valuables from outside of your home. Although large windows in your home can provide your home with a lot of light, they can also provide burglars with an excellent view of the inside of your home. Cover all street-facing windows.
The wiring outside of your house is valuable to burglars. Many people never realize this until a crook steals it off of their home. The wiring contains valuable copper and is easy to be quickly taken off a home. Make sure the wiring is concealed or difficult to access to keep this valuable property safe.
Buy flashlights with strong batteries and make sure there is one in each room in case of power outages. This is important for you to be able to see should your power go out or you suffer an emergency. Teach your children how to use the flashlights so that everyone in your household can help.
Replace rotted wood near door frames. An intruder can simply pry the rotten wood and enter your home. Replace rotting wood with new wood to improve your home’s security.
Before allowing someone into your house, be sure to carefully check their references. Be sure to perform a background check and look for any criminal history that might be in evidence. 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.
Motion sensitive lights are a good way to increase home security. If they are positioned correctly outside of your home, motion detectors can make it very tough for criminals to get to your property.
You should not enter your home if you find the door ajar. This is a delicate situation as the burglar might still be in your home. Your best bet is to call the cops and wait until they arrive before you do anything else.
Your dog is a great tool for protecting your home security weapons. Dogs are protective of turf and bark when something is wrong. It is not necessary to have to be a big tough dog. Even tinier canines can keep intruders away since they don’t want lots of noise when committing crimes.
Invest in a high quality paper shredder. 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. You can also simply tear papers with personal information into small bits before you discard them.
Spring Latch Locks
Don’t let anyone peek into your garage. Have your windows frosted so they aren’t as easy to see through. Keep your garage door closed as often as possible, too.
Do not use locks with spring latch locks. These locks can actually be opened by using a credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a card in between the latch and the lock to pop open. Add a deadbolt if you do not want to replace your spring latch locks for maximum security.
A dog is an excellent burglar alarm. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. A common misconception, though, is that you have to have a large animal to be safe. Small dogs also help, because intruders don’t want people to notice the barking.
Keep curtains closed when you are away from home. Intruders can look into your house if the blinds are left up. You ought to keep them drawn while you are sleeping as well.
If you live alone or with other responsible adults, there is no need to lock off areas of your home to prevent access. You can have key-less locks which require a code. You can install these locks yourself or have them professionally installed.
Ask whether companies offer options to lease and sale. Buying equipment may be initially more expensive, but this means there are no monthly charges. Leasing is a good way to avoid the initial expense, but there may be hidden fees and contracts. Look at both of these to see what works for your personal circumstances.
Does your security company offer leasing and buying? You can avoid interest rates by buying the security system right away. Leasing may seem cheaper but might require contractual agreements and fees. Look at what you can afford, as well as what is offered and make an informed choice.
You shouldn’t keep your car registration papers in the glove compartment. This isn’t smart since anybody who gets them will know where you live. Keep them on you or hide them elsewhere.You should have this information on hand if you are stopped for a traffic violation.
Your auto registration is best kept somewhere other than your glove compartment. This isn’t smart because anyone can reads them can see where you live. Keep them in your wallet or in another safe place in your car. You must have this information on hand if you are stopped for a traffic violation.
Anyone can easily get your birthday from Facebook and could have access into your house.
Replace flimsy doors with doors made of solid wood or metal. Metal and solid wooden doors hold tight and fast. Few people can kick down such a 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.
Ask the security company you hire whether or not that have motion sensitive lighting. This provides added security when you from having unwanted guests enter your home.
Get a home alarm, but only if the police are called when it’s gone off. Even better is to purchase alarms that are monitored centrally, so that the police are automatically contacted. Don’t rely solely on your neighbors to notify the police.
A home alarm can be a good investment. The only way to ensure this is to use a centrally monitored alarm so that calls the police always show up if it is triggered. Don’t rely on your neighbors to notify the police.
You want to always make sure your second story windows are locked. People often overlook their second floor windows, assuming that thieves won’t check them. This is not always true. A criminal can use a ladder, after all.
Being friendly will make them more likely to alert you great security.
As a matter of course, you should install new locks any time you move into a house or apartment. Whether you are renting or buying, this is a matter of concern. If renting, ask the landlord to change the locks. You might need to do this yourself or hire a professional to do it.
Although locks sealed inside are okay, they won’t be too useful if you cannot lock them from outside. A deadbolt with keys on both inside and outside is one of your best choices.
Criminals are afraid of video surveillance systems. You may see burglars in movies wearing masks, but that is fiction. Since most burglars need to look normal outside the home, they will not hide their faces. When they spot surveillance equipment, they tend to leave.
Buy your alarm system from the manufacturer. Resellers are interested in profits, and they do not stand behind everything they sell.
Search for a company that offers more than just installing a home security system. A professional security company will make safety recommendations during their visit to your home. This could include additional locks, removal of brush or new windows. You want a company that is genuinely concerned about keeping you safe, and any company that discusses these things with you really cares.
The wiring outside may be easily targeted by burglars or thieves. The copper from your electrical system could be traded for lots of cash. Conceal the wiring in your home so intruders cannot remove it or you with a big repair bill.
A common tactic used by thieves is to knock on a random door, ask for help and then bust in as soon as the door is opened. If anyone approaches your door in need of help, offer to call on their behalf but keep the door shut. Call the police if you feel uncomfortable or notice suspicious activity.
Your garbage needs to be as secure as your home’s security. If a would-be thief spies a big-screen plasma TV box on the curb, a thief will key in on these boxes in front of your home and plan on coming back to steal them. Even a simple appliance can signal intruders that you’ve got money and that you’re a thief.
You should install some outdoor lights that use infrared detection. Such lights are activated whenever someone draws near. Talk about making a burglar run away! The intruder will know they’re being watched and will run away.
You should install some outdoor lights that use infrared technology. These lights illuminate whenever someone approaches your house. This is a great deterrent for it. They will think they’ve been seen and are sure to flee.
If your shed has a ladder inside, then make sure you lock the door. A burglar could easily use it to access the second floor or your roof. Anything a thief can use to reach your second floor should not be accessible to them.
Don’t think only expensive houses get robbed. Thieves will target any home that looks promising. Protect your family and your home by learning the easy tips shared in this article.