Keeping your home safe

Protecting your home from burglers may seem like a no-brainer to some. Unfortunately for many homeowners, it takes an actual break-in for them to turn their attention to securing their homes against intruders. Here are a few preemptive steps that you can take in order to put your mind at ease.

1. Install a security system.
Many modern homes come equipped with some form of security alarm. However, if you find yourself purchasing a home that doesn’t already have a security system in place, you should consider your options for outfitting your home with one. There are many different types of security systems to choose from, and picking the most expensive plan doesn’t always mean you are getting the most protection for your dollar. If you live in a rural area, for instance, focusing on a deterrent-based form of home security might better suit you than one that places police response as their most-prized feature. If it will take 15 minutes or more for a police officer to respond to your property, then you may need to consider a plan that places emphasis on loud alarms, or even a form of motion-sensor lighting to deter a break in. TopConsumerReviews.com has compiled an up-to-date list of some of the most comprehensive security plans on the market today.
http://www.topconsumerreviews.com/home-security/
2. Keep your doors and windows locked.
Many break-ins don’t actually require anything being “broken” in order for an intruder to gain access to your home. Keeping your windows and doors locked may seem like an obvious step, but you’d be surprised at the number of burglaries and home invasions that occur from homeowners ignoring this very practical safety measure. Also, if your home doesn’t already come equipped with them, consider purchasing deadbolts for all of the exit doors in your home. Additionally, consider installing a peephole in your door if you don’t already have one. Sometimes, all it takes is opening your door in response to a knock that can set off a home invasion. Never open your door to a stranger unless you are comfortable and secure in doing so. Don’t feel foolish asking for credentials when opening your door to someone claiming to work for the water or gas company, either. Many times, a burgler can shut off certain things in your home from the outside to pave the way for knocking at your door, claiming to be there to help restore your services.
3. Alert a trusted neighbor when you go on vacation.
Having a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers will give your home the appearance of being occupied, and will take the attention away from the wandering eyes of a potential burglar. Also, if the neighbor sees suspicious activity, it will give you an extra line of defense in the event that your security system and safety measures happen to fail.
4. Leave an electronic appliance on that is visible through a window.
Many burglers prefer to do their work in your home while you are away. Leaving a television on in a room, or a light on in a window visible from the outside will give them the impression that your house is currently occupied. Many former burglers have stated that they avoid break-ins where there is an obvious risk of coming into contact with the homeowner.
5. Keep track of your spare keys.
Putting a spare key to your home under the mat isn’t the smartest option, and is in fact one of the first places many burglers check in order to ensure they can get into your house quickly and quietly. Consider hiding your spare key under a rock, away from the front door. This will ensure a tougher hunt for the potential burgler.
6. Landscaping.
Many people haven’t considered landscaping being an enabler of home invasions, but many landscaping options we use for our privacy concerns can actually end up HELPING a potential burgler gain access to your home. Privacy bushes and fences outside your first-floor bathroom window might seem like a good idea at first, until you consider that you are also giving a potential burgler an easily concealed place to work on entry into your home. Consider more sensible options, like window tinting or decorative cling wraps instead. If you must have a privacy hedge, consider one that loses it’s concealment capabilities when viewed from the front yard. This will ensure that your neighbor cannot see you get out of the shower, but would severely limit the amount of concealment a burgler could take advantage of.
For more information on how to secure your home, as well as tips for protecting yourself against home invasions, please visit the following links.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/home-security-tips.htm
http://www.statefarm.com/aboutus/_pressreleases/2010/burglary_is_probably_the_most_preventable_crime-az.asp
http://www.crimedoctor.com/homeinvasion.htm