You likely know someone who has been the victim of a home burglary. Home invasion cases are going up, and people need to be more thorough with home security. Break-ins are always a possibility. Use the tips in this article to increase your home’s security.
Be very cautious about entrusting a maid service with a key to your home. Before you give a cleaner full access to your home for extended periods of time, you have to be certain that they’re trustworthy and reliable. Check the housekeeper’s references very carefully. If the person is an employee of a firm, call your local BBB to check their reputation.
Do you have a dog that stays in your yard when you’re not at home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Put it on your dog’s collar, making sure it is hidden. If your dog does not like strangers, this can help ensure consistent access to the house.
If your home has a lot of valuable items inside, then you need to purchase a safe so that all of these items can be kept in a single location. This ensures during a break in that the most important things are not stolen. Keep it hidden in a hard to find location.
Shop around when looking for a good home security system. Several different firms may offer similar protection for wildly divergent prices. Get three quotes or more before making a choice.
You need to secure your garage if it is attached to your home. Lots of people are afraid that burglars will be able to break into their garage, which will result in them breaking into the home. Thankfully, you can prevent this. A C-clamp placed on the garage door track will stop it from opening when you don’t want it to.
Take advantage of any and all security resources your local police force makes available to homeowners. Home inspections or engraving identifiers can help protect you. If your police department does not offer these programs, find a private security company.
Rural Areas
Rural areas are just as prone to break-ins as cities. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Still there are those that think that burglars are not as likely to target rural areas.
If you’ve just gotten a home, replace every lock. Even if the previous owner or tenant seems trustworthy, you have no way of knowing how many copies of the key they made and distributed. Keep in mind that there may have been residents prior to that person too.
Rotted Wood
Replace rotted wood around entryways. Anyone who wants to get into your home can easily pry away rotted wood and slip right into your home. Keep your home secure by replacing rotted wood with fresh timber.
Keep a flashlight with good batteries in every room of your home, just in case you lose power. Flashlights are essential since they let you move around in an emergency. Also show your children how to use them so they can help out in emergencies.
Check someone’s references carefully before letting them come into your home. A background check which includes any criminal history is warranted. It is not a good idea to give anyone a key to your home, even contractors or repairmen.
Make sure the outside of the house is well lit. Dark houses invite burglars who prefer to operate under cover of darkness. Put a light anywhere where an intruder can enter your home. This means by the garage, in the doorways, around windows and much more.
A great way to deter criminals from getting into the garage is to make sure nobody sees inside it. Cover windows using frosting, which you can buy at large hardware stores, to keep people from peeking in your window. Don’t leave doors open for long lengths of time when working there.
You need to inquire about whether you can buy or lease the home security equipment. Purchasing your equipment may cost more in the beginning, but this is a one-time cost which does not recur. Leasing is usually the cheaper option; however, it does mean higher monthly bills and a contract. It is worthwhile checking out both possibilities before you decide on which is best.
It is a mistake to assume that break-ins only happen in upscale neighborhoods. They rob any home they know they can get into, It is best to adopt good habits and invest in a quality home security system to keep your family safe.
