Tragedy seems to spring up without any warning. You don’t want to put yourself in a dangerous situation because you’ve failed to have a plan for protection. Read the guidelines in this guide in order to make your house a safe place that will scare intruders from coming in.
Home security systems aren’t just about sounding alarms. Most systems could sound an alarm when someone enters the home. This can be useful if you’ve got small children that are able to open doors.
Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. The doormat is too obvious of a place to hide it, as robbers will look there first. Hide your alternative key on your dog’s collar.
If you will be vacationing for an extended period of time, turn off the ringer on all the phones in your house. A home phone that rings and rings is a good way for a potential thief to know if anyone is home.
Never open up your door to a stranger. You have no way of knowing if the stranger on the other side of the door wishes to do you harm. 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. Many people are concerned about people entering their garages to gain access to their homes. 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.
Remove old plants and debris from your yard. As the summer heat rolls in, there is a higher chance that these can catch on fire, putting your home at risk. Regularly clear away your yard to keep your home in good standing and safe for your family.
Use your garage for your car, not just storage. A car kept locked in a garage is much less likely to be stolen or damaged. Hiding the car from plain sight can keep possible intruders from figuring out when you’re home and also when you are not.
Security System
Even if you have a great security system, it must be checked annually. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Many things can impact the performance of a security system, such as animals and weather. If the problem cannot be seen, you probably won’t even realize there is one.
Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Some people feel that rural residents lead riskier lives because they are far away from neighbors. Still, there are those who are of the opinion that rural properties are less of a temptation to burglars.
Do not place your spare keys under your mat or even in plant boxes. You are allowing people to invade your home when you make it easy for them. Rest assured, thieves have a good idea about these hiding places. A better option is to entrust an honest neighbor with a spare key.
When you choose an alarm system, pick one that offers protection that goes beyond the doors. All windows can be entry spots for thieves. Each point of entry for your home should be monitored by the system. Do this to keep you and your family safe.
If you have purchased any large and/or expensive items, do not throw the boxes away until the day before the trash man is scheduled to come. They show the world you have money and lots of valuables inside.
Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. The flashlights are important because they make you able to get around the house in an emergency. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.
If you move into a home or apartment that has been previously lived in, the first thing you should do is change the locks. You do not want anyone to have a copy of the key. You might even install new locks yourself so that you know you have the only keys.
Ask for ID before letting anyone into your home. It is very common for thieves to pretend to be company reps in order to get into your home. This situation presents danger to your home, family and belongings. Proceed with caution.
It is very hard to predict criminal activities, so you never know when your home has become a target. Instead of just hoping it will not happen to you, take the steps to secure your home. Use these tips, plus your own research, to give your home protection from burglars.
