Home Security-More Do It Yourself Home Security

In my article "Home Security-Low Cost Alarms That Work" we talked about the effectiveness of low cost alarms to protect your most valuable asset-your home-without sending you to the poor house. There was a Consumers Union study in 2002 that found that barking dogs and alarm systems are the most effective ways to keep intruders out of your home.

In a recent Colorado Springs Gazette article, David Husted crime prevention officer of the Falcon Division of the Colorado Springs Police department was quoted as saying "The sound of a big dog barking is a really good deterrent, too." Asked if he'd spend money on an alarm or a dog "I don't know, I may just go with the dog, if it's got a really good bark."

In the time it takes you to read the next four small paragraphs two more burglaries will occur in the United States. Remember this: property crime occurs every 3 seconds, a home burglary every 15 seconds.

When a burglar goes looking for his next victim he "cases" the neighborhood and individual homes looking for weaknesses. How your home looks to him will send a signal if he feels he can be successful or not. If he sees to many potential problems with your house why would he bother when there are so many others to choose from?

Here are some additional inexpensive ways to help prevent home burglaries and provide the best home security for your most valued possession-your home.

Motion Activated Spotlights These are easy to install, relatively inexpensive lighting systems activated by motion detectors. One of the things burglars don't like is LIGHT.

Signs For an Alarm Company Burglars do their homework. When they break into a place it is usually with some degree of planning. If they see a sign in a yard that the property is protected by an alarm system EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE they are much less likely to target the home.

Neighborhood Watch Program Signs Again for the reasons listed above, burglars will think twice about invading a Neighborhood Watch neighborhood. If you don't have a Neighborhood Watch Program set up-start one. Your local police department will be glad to help get one going. Check out www.usaonwatch.org for more specifics.

Dummy Surveillance Cameras Dummy surveillance cameras have a proven track record in reducing burglaries for a fraction of the cost of their "real" brothers. Most dummy cameras look like the real thing with flashing red LED and warning signs that the property is being monitored by CCTV.

NRA Stickers Place an NRA sticker so it can be seen from the road in a conspicuous place-high on your living room window, on your mailbox, or on the bumper of a car parked in the driveway. This sends a signal to a potential burglar that an occupant of the home may be armed.

The key here is to "advertise" to potential burglars that your home will not be their next target. By using these low cost home security devices and following these home security tips you will help prevent a burglary at your home. Home security alarm systems are effective but for most people they are too expensive.

If you think crime can only happen to the other guy you are wrong. The "other guy" is thinking the same thing and YOU are that "other guy". There is a reason why they call it self defense. You have to protect yourself, your family, your home and business!!

Jack Krohn started Security Solutions to help people protect themselves, their families, their home and businesses from crime. He offers a wide variety of unique, hard to find self defense, and home security and professional high tech surveillance products at HTTP://WWW.AAA-SAFETYFIRST.COM/VOICEALERT.HTM AND HTTP://WWW.AAA-SAFETYFIRST.COM/ELECTRONICWATCHDOG.HTM

Secure Your Home Without A Security System

The best way to secure your home is with a home security system, the only problem is they can run anywhere from a few hundred dollars, to thousands for all of the options that are now offered. The funny thing about home invasions is that they have not changed at all over the years. Criminals still use the same methods to break into your home now, as they always have. Statistics tell us that 63% of burglaries involve forcible entry, which means if you focus on protecting your home from forced entry, your odds of being burglarized drop dramatically.

People that make a living burglarizing people, have three main enemies, time, light and noise. When you purchase a home security system, you create much larger enemies for burglars. If your system is monitored, the burglar knows that his time in your home has to be very fast, because the police are dispatched and on their way. The noise that the alarm makes is enough to get them out of your house all by itself.

Believe it or not most burglaries happen during the day, so the light factor does not mean what you think. Light really means exposure. If your criminal is exposed to your neighbors and or people walking by, chances are he will pick another target.

What you need to do is address each one of a burgular's enemies:

1. Purchase dead bolt locks for all entrances to your home. A good deadbolt will most certainly slow down a burglar, along with generating alot of noise from him trying to force the door open.

2. Replace the doors in the back of your house that have windows . This is probably the easiest way into your home. All a burglar has to do is break a small pane of glass and reach in and open the door.

3. Never leave a ladder in your back yard. Criminals know that second floor windows a rarely locked.

4. Trim the shrubs and bushes that guard first floor windows. If a burglar can be seen by the neighbors climbing in a window, chances are he will think twice.

5. Purchase motion sensor lights for any area outside the house that is in total darkness.

6 Always lock your doors, especially if you are home. Burglars always check to see if a door is locked before deciding on forced entry. The last thing you want is an unwelcome guest in your home just because you didn't lock the door. (It happens more than you think).

Todd C. Robinson is Blogger for http://secure--your--home.blogspot.com

Home Safety and Home Security Tips for Homeowners at Halloween

Safety in the home at Halloween calls for some special care since holidays often present atypical circumstances to year-round living. Here are several home safety and home security tips for you to heed at home at Halloween. Share these Halloween safety tips with your children too.

Clear debris and items like garden hoses from your yard, driveway and walkway to create a clear, safe walking path to your door. You don't want anyone to accidentally injure himself (or sue you later).

Secure loose items you want to keep like bikes. While you should secure these anyway year-round, you wouldn't want to lose these items to theft on Halloween. And you wouldn't want someone to come back later to collect these items because they notice you don't secure them.

Test your outside porch lights to make sure they work. Add lighting as necessary to create a path for trick or treaters to see clearly when walking to your door. A well-lit clear path also should keep these visitors from tripping and trudging through your flower beds and other garden areas. Plus a working outside light helps you to see who is at your door.

If you decorate with candles, place them in spots in your home or outside where pets and people won't brush against them. You don't want pets, people or your home to catch on fire.

If you have a skittish dog or cat, put him in another room with a television on low to keep him from getting spooked everytime your doorbell rings. Also, you don't want the dog snapping at or scaring trick-or-treaters (no matter how well-trained or nice YOU think your pet is). And cats have been known to hiss and scratch when frightened by strangers. So don't allow your pets to answer the door with you. That includes your pet birds, which not only scare non-bird lovers but could fly the coop due to all the chaos it's not used to being around.

Don't feel you have to answer the door after the typical trick-or-treater rush is over. Many people open their doors freely on Halloween because they expect to see trick or treaters. Once the rush dies down, you may want to turn off your outside light to indicate you're done answering the door for the night.

Do not allow any child or adult to come into your home. Hand treats out with the door propped open or on your porch. If an adult or child says they'd like to come inside to use your phone for an emergency, do not allow these strangers to enter your home. If you feel it's necessary you can offer to make a phone call to the number they give you while they wait outside on your doorstep. Lock your door when you leave them there to enter another portion of your home. If someone asks to use your bathroom, give them directions to the nearest public restroom.

You do not want strangers following you into your home for any reason---no matter how nice, big, little, desperate or stressed they seem. Likewise, the average person who doesn't know you does not want to come into your home anyway since you are a stranger to him too. So if a stranger is asking for access to your home, be wary and do not accomodate him. If they are trick-or-treaters from the neighborhood (as they should be technically), they can return to their own home for these needs.

Practice these home and Halloween safety tips every year and teach them to your children. Home security is an important topic year-round, but holidays present special holiday safety circumstances.

Karen Fritscher-Porter publishes http://www.easy-home-security.com --- an informational site where you can read more about holiday safety and home safety tips. Plus learn about where to buy products that aid safety in the home.

Home Security and Personal Security Tips

One of the most feared crimes is burglary. The threat of being a victim in your own home is bad enough but to be subjected to a crime a second or third time simply increases the fear of householders in an area. The quiet enjoyment of community life is ruined. Most householders and car owners have at some time felt the fear of crime, with the elderly and vulnerable most at risk. It makes sense to take steps to tackle crime in an effective way by reducing and preventing crime before it can happen. Home security is the best way to reduce your chances of being burgled. A lot of burglaries are spur of the moment, as a burglar may see an open window or other easy point of entry and take their chance. Basic tips: Visible burglar alarms , good lighting, and carefully directed and limited security lighting can act as deterrents. But make sure that lights don't disturb your neighbours, and that alarms turn off after 20 minutes. Fitting a 'spy hole' allows you to see who is at the door. Having a door chain means you can open the door a little way to talk to them. Make sure that any improvements you make don't stop you from getting out of your house as quickly as possible if there is a fire. Spending money on security measures can seem daunting, but it is a good investment, will last a long time and can add value to your property. Contact your council or local police for help. They may be able to advise you on the best measures to protect your property, and may even have grants to help cover the cost. Securing your property will make you safer in your home, and make your home and your belongings safer while you are out.

,b>Older People Older people may feel more vulnerable to some crimes, but are actually less likely to become victims. A few simple steps can also help reduce your risk of crime. Think about getting a personal alarm to use if you trip or fall at home. Fit door chains and spy holes, or ask the council to help you if you own your home. Many councils have security schemes that are aimed at older or more vulnerable people. You could ask them for advice. Phone the Age Concern information line on 0800 00 99 66 or visit the Age Concern website

Car Security Most car thefts are carried out by opportunists and can be deterred. Car crime affects everybody living in an area and be reduced with some simple measures: Don't leave valuable items on display Do use steering wheel or hand brake locks to prevent theft of your vehicle - especially if your car is an older model and does not have an immobiliser fitted. If possible, park in a busy well lit area.

Sandra Hornby is a consultant providing services in Home Security also in personal security and vehicle security