When you least expect it, your worst nightmare can come true. A thief or other dangerous criminal could break into your home to steal valuables or, worse, hurt your loved ones. Prevent this from happening by educating yourself on home security, starting with the great tips included in this article.
Placing motion sensor lights around the outside of your house can be a great way to deter prowlers. These lights stay off unless something or someone enters your yard, and then they light up enabling you to see who's out there. Criminals prefer to work in the shadows, so this can be an effective home security strategy to use.
TIP! Get your garage clean. Homeowners often use their garage for storage, filling it so full that you can no longer fit a car in.
If you have jet skis, boats, or anything similar, have them inside your garage or shed when not in use. Intruders see these items and assume you have a lot of money. This gives them ammunition to break into your home and look for other valuable items. Also, never leave the keys to these things in the ignition.
Check the street address at the end of your block to make sure that it is noticeable in the event of an emergency. If you see that it looks illegible, call your town center to see if you can get a new sign for your street. This is crucial as firefighters or police cars will need to get to your house immediately in an emergency.
Make sure that the doorbell on your home works. Before a burglar comes into a home, they almost always ring the doorbell to see if someone is at home. If you happen to be upstairs in the bathroom, you do not know if the crook is ringing your bell if it is broken. Get it fixed or you may have an unwanted visitor when you come downstairs.
TIP! How much space do you have between your door and its frame? Having too much room here is like an open invitation for a burglar to use some sort of jimmy to get inside your home. You can reinforce your door with a thin piece of plywood or sheet metal.
If you have valuables, and you need a place to store them, look no further than the walls of your home. In between the studs is a lot of empty space, and you can easily store jewelry or anything else you don't want a burglar to have access to. Simply install a fake electrical outlet, and use it to take things in and out of the wall.
Make sure all exterior wiring is well protected or covered. Copper wiring is a favorite object for theft as it is often accessible from outside the home and can be sold for a great deal of money. Air conditioners are a prime target for copper thieves. Also make sure exterior power and phone lines are protected and not easily cut.
In spite of all the advantages of a home security system, and all the advertising, only 15 percent of American homes have one. Homeowners may be unsure of which system will work best for them, and worry about the additional cost. Some people also worry they will be unable to figure out how to use it.
Never assume that your home is safe when it hasn't been protected, no matter how nice your neighborhood is. If crime was so easy to predict, then the rates would drop dramatically. Remember the tips in this article to create a safe haven for you and your family to enjoy.
