Common Sense Home Security Tips

Is it just me, or do we spend more time worrying about the safety of our computers these days than the safety of our own homes? You've got firewalls and virus protection for your CPU, but have you changed your door locks since you moved into your house? Do you have ladders, tools, and other things lying around your yard that a burglar could use to break a window and access your home? Do you have an alarm system you never arm? Windows you leave open? Doors left unlocked? When was the last time you walked around your house and, thinking like a burglar, considered just how easy it would be to break in? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Let's take a look at some smart security tips that can help make your home safer for you and your family. And guess what? Most of them are easier to implement than the security software loaded on your computer.

First off, remember that in general burglars will avoid occupied houses. That doesn't mean your family is always safe when they're home, however. There always exceptions to the rule, and you shouldn't assume that nothing can ever happen just because someone is there. If a burglar breaks in while you're not there, your belongings are at risk. If a burglar breaks in when your family is home, your family is at risk as well.

Now that I've got you thinking, let's look at some measures you can follow in order to minimize the risk of being targeted.

Keys: Don't hand out keys to friends, even if they're trustworthy. Make sure you know the location of all your house keys all the time. Never use hide-a-keys or leave the key under the doormat, above the door, in a flowerpot, or anywhere outside the house. You may think you're being clever, but guess what? Burglars know all the tricks. It's their job to (however despicable). Also, it's a good idea to keep your car keys and house keys on a different ring if you ever use valet parking or leave your keys with parking lot attendants or even at a repair garage.

Don't let strangers in the house: Adults have no problem telling this rule to their kids, but they don't realize it should apply to them too! Home security means being cautious. Even before you open the front door to accept a package, you should ask for photo identification. This goes for anyone you don't recognize. Don't assume someone is "legit" just because they are wearing a uniform or driving some company's truck (these things can be stolen). If somebody comes to your door and asks to make a phone call, offer to make it for them, but don't let them some inside. If someone looks like they're injured, call 911, but don't open the door. When you walk away to make that call, lock the door behind you; you don't want to leave the door unlocked and unmanned. A chain on the door helps insure people can't force their way in while you're home.

Locks: Keep your doors and windows locked, even if you're at home. Get your children into this habit, too. It's too easy to forget an open window when you leave the house, and that provides an easy way in for burglars. Don't assume a second story window is out of reach for a thief. They're good at finding ways in.

Don't be predictable: If you always leave home at the same time every day and return at the same time, thieves can easily memorize your routine to take advantage of the times you're not at home. Work is work, and you probably can't change those hours, but if you always go to a class or the grocery store at the same time, try to make yourself less predictable. You can also consider automatic timers for your lights and electronics, to make it seem when someone is home, even when they're not.

Valuables shouldn't be on display: I know you want to show off your hard-won plasma TV, but if somebody can look in your window and see your wallet, credit cards, purse, jewelry, or fancy electronics in open sight, they're going to be tempted. A computer or television placed in front of a ground-floor window may make an easy target. Likewise, electronics placed across from a window are easily visible, too. In a similar vein, don't leave your garage doors open for the world to see all the cool stuff you have in storage. Lightweight items could be snatched away quickly and easily.

Be mindful of your trash: Just bought a new entertainment system? There's no need to tell the world about it. A bunch of empty boxes out by the curb is an open invitation to would-be burglars. Instead of putting boxes out in plain sight, cut them down, and stuff them in trash bags. Also be wary of identity theft. Never put personal identification information in your trash until it's been shredded.

Be alert: Try to be aware of your surroundings on a day-to-day basis, even in your own neighborhood. This doesn't mean walking around like a crazy paranoid person; just get in the habit of watching for suspicious activity.

Paying attention to the simple things can make you and your family much less of a target. Burglar alarms and home security systems are great investments, but common sense prevention is the best way to stay safe.

TC Thorn is a freelance writer and the webmaster for Home Security. This article may be reprinted so long as a link to her site is included

Home Security How to Spot Suspicious Activity

In part nine of this series on home security, I am going to giver you a list of things to watch out for to help in spotting possibly suspicious people, its surprising how regularly we miss rather obvious signs that should put us on our guard. 1. Somebody going from house to house, this is particularly suspicious if, once a few homes have been visited, one or more of the people go into a back or side yard. It is even more suspicious if another remains in the front when this occurs. It may be that they are looking for a house to burglarize, or there could be a burglary in progress.

2. If somebody is waiting around in front of a home this becomes very suspicious if you know the homeowners are away. The individual you can see may be a lookout for a burglary that is in progress inside.

3. Everyone seen forcing an entry into a home. This is clearly suspicious at anytime and in any circumstances immediately dial 911 or 999 if in the U.K. 4. If you see anybody who does not live in the home, going into the yard, it is possible that a burglary is being committed.

5. Someone running away particularly if something valuable is being carried, they may be leaving the scene of a crime.

6. If you see somebody showing strange mental or physical symptoms, they may be injured or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 7. Anybody moving property may be considered suspicious in some circumstances. Perhaps if it is late at night or if the item is not wrapped, it is possible that the article has been stolen. 8. A large number of comings and goings from a particular house, this may not be suspicious, unless it occurs on a daily or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours when it could signify vice or drug related activities. With all of the above situations you must use your common sense, in the majority of situations there is a perfectly innocent explanation for what you see but if you are not certain dial 911 or 999 in the U.K. and let the police investigate.

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Protect Your Home With A Wireless Home Security System

We all want to make sure that our homes and families are well protected and safe. So it's no surprise that home security equipment has become increasingly popular as consumers learn more about the options that are available to them. In fact, today's home security systems employ features that only existed in very expensive security systems in the past. Thanks to ever improving technology, many sophisticated security systems are now well within the reach of the average homeowner.

For instance, most home security systems in the past needed to be installed by a professional because of all the wires that had to be run through the walls and floors of the house. So the cost of the security system itself was only part of the total expense, and when adding both the cost of the system itself and the installation together, it could get very expensive. This prohibited many homeowners from installing the kind of home security system that they really wanted.

But wireless technology has dramatically change all of that. The wave of products for the wireless home computer networking field has had an impact on home security as well, and now there are several high quality wireless home security systems on the market that can actually be set up and installed by the homeowner themselves. These wireless systems also have the advantage that they can be removed easily and taken to a different home and installed there without much hassle or fuss. Hard-wired systems on the other hand can be transferred to a new home too, but you have to pay for another installation at the new location, since all of the wires have to be run through the walls in the new home.

Most wireless security systems come with a central receiver that can be connected to any number of wireless sensors that are placed on doors and windows to monitor it's respective area and then notify the receiver when it's particular entry or exit spot is opened. If the alarm is activated while you are away, it begins a countdown to sounding the alarm if the system is not deactivated in the meantime by the homeowner returning home. These security systems can also be connected to outside monitoring services that can help provide another layer of protection and security as well.

More sophisticated wireless security systems allow you to also include wireless cameras that can monitor any area both inside and outside the home at all times. You can even get infrared cameras that can see images in the dark, and be activated by motion sensors.

In the field of wireless home security there are so many choices now available that just weren't there a few years ago. So why not see for yourself how inexpensive and easy it can be to set one up in your home too?

Find out more about wireless home security and wireless home security systems by visiting our Home Security website

How To Select The Best Home Security Company For Your Needs

Home security is a growing field and lots of companies have entered into it with a wide variety of products being offered to consumers. And there is something available for almost every budget too. So how do you choose what security system to buy, and where should you buy it?

Well obviously, one of the largest factors that needs to be considered is how much money your budget will allow you to spend on a new home security system. There is no need to be looking at high end security systems if you can't afford them anyway. Another important factor to consider is not just the security system itself, but also the installation. Are you a good do-it-yourselfer? Are you familiar with home wiring and doing home improvement work? If so, you may choose to install the alarm system yourself and can save a lot of money by doing so. In fact, the money you save on installation costs can allow you to upgrade the security system itself. In this case, there are some great security systems available online for a lot less than you would pay otherwise and can even further reduce the purchase cost.

If you feel that you are like most of us though and cannot do the installation yourself, then you most likely will want to talk with a home security specialist from one of the major companies in that field. It's a good idea to do a little advance research beforehand though. Home security alarm systems are becoming increasingly more common, so why not ask your friends, family, co-workers and others you know if they have had any good or bad experiences with a particular security company? If you ask enough people in your area, you will usually start to get a good feel for both companies that have treated their customers well, and those that don't.

Many companies will send a field representative to your home to inspect it firsthand and make specific recommendations on the type of security system that they feel will suit you best. The thing to keep in mind in these situations is your predetermined budget. Don't allow anyone to talk you into a more expensive security system than you can really afford just because it has more features. Remember that even the most basic security system is better than none at all.

It's best to stay with companies that are authorized representatives of a major home security company, as they tend to need to protect their reputation in the community and have a more long term vision for their business which includes treating customers well. Avoid independent contractors that don't already come with extremely good recommendations from people that you can trust.

Just a few of these simple guidelines can help insure that you choose a home security system that works well for you and does not cost more than it should.

Find out more about a home security system and home security products by visiting our Home Security Review website.

Home Security Tips For Those On A Budget

We all want to make sure that our homes, and especially our loved ones are safe and secure. It's one of the basic needs and desires of people almost everywhere around the world. And home security is a field where many things can be implemented to help reach your goal of safety for your home and family. Some home security plans can be very expensive, and the more tools in your security arsenal the better. But there are many inexpensive security choices that can be made as well.

For instance, a burglar alarm system does not have to be very expensive to raise the safety level in your home. A simple alarm system that sounds a loud noise when activated can be very effective on it's own since burglars do not like loud noises and certainly don't want attention being brought to what they are doing. Simple alarm systems that can be found online can also be installed by the homeowner as well, also significantly reducing the overall cost of home security. If you wish to include an outside monitoring service, the cost is usually around $10 a month which is very reasonable, but it's entirely a personal choice.

Simple, low-cost motion detectors that trigger outside lights at night can be very effective in increasing home security and yet not cost very much. Many homeowners can actually install these themselves too and avoid the installation fee.

A particularly effective and yet no-cost method of home security is a neighborhood watch program. A simple agreement between neighbors to actively watch and keep an eye out for each others properties can make burglars avoid that area altogether simply because the riak of getting spotted is too high for the potential rewards that they may gain from the burglary.

And finally, something as simple as a watchdog can be a red flag to burglars that breaking into your home will not be easy and it will most certainly draw unwanted attention due to the dog barking or even possibly biting them as they try to go about their business. Watchdogs are particularly effective pets for security because they tend to be very territorial and they defend their home and family, often to the death. Of course, having a dog that barks all of time is not going to be good for either you or your neighbors, so make sure that the dog is well trained and only barks when a perceived threat is suspected. That way if the dog is barking unusually long and hard it will be a notification for everyone in earshot that an intruder may be nearby.

Most of these ideas are very low cost, and some don't cost anything. But putting them into practice can help raise the home security around your house right away.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including home security. You can find out more about home security by visiting our Home Security Review website.