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.
Cameras are a great way to protect your home and family. If you make the cameras noticeable, just having them on your property is enough to deter many criminals. High-quality video surveillance systems have decreased in price in recent years and are affordable for almost any budget now.
Be wary of salespeople that come to your door. Make sure to ask for their credentials if they ask to come into your home. Ask them to slide their identification under your door. There are many professional burglars that will use this tactic to check out a home. If You’re feeling doubtful about them, Try checking with their office before allowing them in.
Use your garage for your car, not just storage. Keeping the car inside is a good way to keep criminals from stealing or harming it. Additionally, if your car is put away, burglars will not be able to tell whether or not you are home.
Because so many people are numb to the sound of alarms, it is important that you have your home security system linked to the local police station. This is helpful in case you are home and can not call 911 yourself or you are away from home during a break-in.
Avoid putting your name on your mailbox. As silly as it may seem, doing so gives a thief ammunition to break into your home. They could easily call directory assistance using your name to get your phone number. Then, they will call you to find out if you are home or not.
Keep your windows locked. It seems like an obvious step to take; however, many people simply forget to check the locks on their windows. Thieves are always looking for the easiest way into a home, and doors and windows are among the first entrance points they check. This includes screened windows, too, as screens can pop off quite easily.
Where are your door’s hinges? If the hinges for your door are on the outside of your home, you should move them to the inside of your house. Having outside hinges is an easy way for burglars to grant access to your home. All they have to do is knock the pin out of the hinge.
Fingertip locks are a common, effective way to protect intruders from entering your home. With these locks, the only way someone can get through your front door is by you programming their fingerprints into the system. If someone not in the system attempts to use their fingerprint to get in, you will be alerted.
Make sure your flashlights have charged batteries and are found throughout your home. Having these in an easy-to-find place will allow you to see in the dark much more quickly. Make sure everyone in your family knows where the flashlights are.
If you move to a place that was occupied before, you should change the locks right away. Previous tenants may have given the keys back to the landlord, but it is always possible to make copies of the keys. If you own, you can have the locks replaced, and only you will have the key.
If you need to hide a spare key, do so in a safe manner. Putting it under your doormat, in a plant hanging by the door, in your garage, hung on the wall, or in the mailbox are all poor choices. Instead, bury it somewhere and mark it in a non-descript way.
Like many today, your budget may be tight, and you may think it is going to be difficult to take steps to increase the security of your home. This security measure will not cost you anything but your time. If your landscaping includes shrubs and hedges, keep them pruned back, so they do not hide potential entry points for intruders. Some intruders use overgrown plants to hide behind while they are attempting to break in through a window.
The areas outside your home should be kept well lit. Criminals like to blend into the shadows, so do your best not to provide too many for them. Be sure all vulnerable exterior areas of your home are equipped with good lighting. All doors, porches, garages, and windows should be well-lit.
If you want to have glass in your door itself or near it, make sure the lock and knob are not within reach. Anyone can break the glass and reach inside, so test it out yourself. Measure the distance from the glass to the lock, and then measure your arm.
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.
Your pup is a great crime deterrent. Dogs are protective of turf and generally make noise when something is wrong. You will get good results even if you do not have a large or vicious dog. Even a small dog will deter intruders, who do not want a lot of noise when they commit their crimes.
There are several different factors to keep in mind when it comes to deciding on a home security system. Some systems may fit your needs perfectly, whereas others may not be right for you. Make sure to do your research so you can pick the system that works best for you!
