Personal Safety

Using Your Computer And Technology To Secure Your Home

It takes some research to learn more about the products and maintaining home security. Read on to learn more about making a home security plan.

Don’t ever let it be apparent that there is no one at home. Invest in timers to automatically turn on and off any electronics at various times. This makes people think you’re home. This will keep people from breaking in.

TIP! Make sure your home appears occupied. You can buy timers to have radios, TVs, lights and other electronics go off and on at different times.

Your dog can actually safeguard a spare key for you. This can be done if you’ve got an outdoor dog can come outside. You could simply put a key onto your dog’s collar, so when you forget your keys your dog can let you in.

Place your spare key securely on your dog’s collar. This will come in handy if your dog is outdoors most of the time or if it can go outside through a pet door. Simply affix a spare key to the collar of the animal. You’ll always have a backup plan if you lose your key!

TIP! Have your dog protect the spare key. This will only be ideal if you have a dog door or an outdoor dog.

Check out their references very carefully. If you’re hiring from a company, you can check up on the company with your local Better Business Bureau.

Make sure you trust your house cleaner before you provide them with a key. Anyone you give the keys to your home to should be unarguably honest. Read through their references very carefully, and don’t hesitate to follow up on their references to ensure they actually exist. If your cleaning person comes from a company, check with the BBB.

TIP! Let a house cleaner have your keys only if they can provide you with references so you can verify their trustworthiness. Make sure you know they are legitimate before giving out the key.

Home security systems do more than sounding an alarm sound. Many can be set for sounding their alarm if anyone enters your home. This is a good way to know if your small kids.

Do you keep your dog outside when you aren’t home? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Fasten the key to your dog’s collar to hide it from view. If your pet does not get along with strangers, this will ensure your spare key stays safe.

TIP! Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? Use him or her to help hide your spare key! Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. Especially if pets don’t like strangers, this can be a useful way for having easy access to your house.

Buy a small home safe to keep your valuables in. Keep your safe in a hard to find location.

If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A burglar might hear your phone ring and ring and ring, then realize that you are not home to answer it.

TIP! If you will be gone for an extended period, turn the ringers off on all telephones in the home. A phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you’re not there.

This ensures your home when you dwell in a more dry climate.

Do not open your door for people you do not know. Nowadays, thieves are creative when thinking of ways to get homeowners to open a door and let them in. Therefore, only allow people you know and are expecting to enter your home.

TIP! Do not open your door for strangers. Many people are devising many different schemes to get into homes and burglarize them.

Turn the ringer off on all your telephone if you will be away for a prolonged period of time. A constantly ringing phone which rings forever is a sign to burglars that you are not there.

Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Have a worker from the security company take a look at it. Mother Nature and wild animals can also cause issues with your home security system. The problem might not be obvious to you, though.

TIP! Remember to have an annual inspection of your home security system. Ask someone from your security company to come over and have a look.

Never allow a stranger to enter your house. Even if they tell you a sob story about needing help, do not let them in. This person might just be casing the joint to see if there is home secure.

If you reside in the country, you may be less worried about break-ins than urban dwellers are. Interestingly, many think those living in rural areas are actually more susceptible to break-ins since neighbors may not live close by. Other people believe rural areas are less likely to be targeted by burglars.

TIP! Those that live in rural area are not as concerned about having their home invaded as those who are located in the city. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk.

Keeping the car secured will prevent people from vandalizing or stealing it. This will also keep people from home.

A skylight is another area that needs to be protected for home security. Although skylights provide your home with a lot of light, it is also very helpful for burglars to break in. Keep them secure with heavy duty hardware that closes them off to potential thieves.

TIP! Don’t forget to secure your skylights too. Skylights are commonly used by thieves to enter a home.

Motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home is a great investment. These lights that turn on if someone walks near your home. Make sure you regularly change the light bulbs in your motion activated lights so that they continue to work properly.

Hide any valuables in wall spaces. It is unnecessary cut space into your wall. There are many spots in your home that already have areas that are pre-cut. For example, place jewelry in an unused electrical outlet.

TIP! You can hide certain valuables within your walls. You don’t have to cut pieces out of the walls.

Don’t forget about the skylights when doing a security sweep for your home.While they are nice and help with lighting, if you do not care for it properly it could also let in a thief. Be sure that skylights in your home can be locked securely.

You want all wires of an installed security system to be hidden. A burglar can easily cut and disconnect wires that are left visible. Make it hard for intruders and bury the wires or hide them inside your walls, if possible. Your system will be far more effective this way.

TIP! After installing a security system in your home, make sure any wires are hidden. Exposed wires make it easy for an intruder to cut them and disable the alarm.

Walls are great for hiding spot. You should think about hiding certain small valuables in your walls. You can use the opening provided by an electrical switch plate or electric outlets as hiding spots. You put in a fake unused plates.

If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires. Try avoiding these fees when you can so that you know about them.

TIP! If you’re going to hire a company that provides home security, read everything in the contract before you sign it. You need to find out about hidden costs, such as cancellation fees in case you want to cancel your contract before it expires.

Don’t put extra keys under floor mats or plants. These seem like great places criminals will look when they try to enter your home. Thieves are aware of these spots.

Research how long a security company has been in the business before contracting with them. Companies in business for many years engender great confidence and trust. You’ll have a lot more confidence in your choice if you stick with a company that has a proven track record.

TIP! Ask the home security company about how long they’ve been running prior to signing up. A company that’s been around for a while has proven that their service is reliable.

Make sure that your valuables cannot be seen from the home. Large windows at the home’s front can be beautiful, but that works both ways.

For maximum safety, your home needs bright exterior lighting. Darkness allows for all sorts of nefarious activities. The most important parts of your home to light are all of its potential access points. Over doors, near windows and especially your back yard need to be lit.

TIP! Keep your home’s exterior well lit. Burglars prefer the cover that night provides their criminal activities.

Were you aware that your house wires are? A lot of people don’t realize this until a thief steals it from the house. The copper inside the wire is very valuable and is easy to be quickly taken off the exterior of the house in a short time span. Make sure your wiring is hidden or hard to access in order to keep this valuable item safe.

If you are planning to be away, and you have someone picking up your mail, ask them to also double-check your door for fliers. Canny burglars will often produce and distribute their own fliers so that they can see whether or not anyone takes them down. If the flier is not removed, it’s easy for a burglar to suspect that the owner is away.

TIP! If you will be away from your home, arrange to have whoever is collecting your mail to also pick up fliers placed inside your door. Burglars sometimes tack these up and watch to see whether or not they are removed.

Flashlights are key because they let you move around in an emergency. Teach your home to use flashlights.

There is no need to have keyed locks on interior doors. There are locks that use a code for entry, rather than a key. You can have your home security company install it for you, or you can do it yourself.

TIP! If you have rooms that are off limits to kids and company, the following is a great solution. Some locks will allow you to punch in a code to gain access to the room.

Use the Internet when you are seeking a reliable home security company. After reading about these services, you can then take the next step by contacting each one.

Avoid spring latch locks. These locks are easy to pick, and it can be done with an ordinary credit card. Intruders can pick these locks by wedging a credit card in between the latch and the door. Add a deadbolt to existing spring latch locks for maximum security.

TIP! Try to stay away from spring latch locks. These are very easy to pick by simply using a credit card.

Don’t leave the boxes for big-ticket purchases outside on the curb of your curb. Burglars will see these boxes and recognize that there are valuable things in your home for them to get. Cut the boxes and hide the garbage truck comes to put it out.

Avoid making the password your birth date for numeric locks. It is easy for anybody to learn your birthday, which makes it easy for them to access the house. Think of a number which is the answer to a mathematical question so you can just remember the answer to the question.

TIP! Don’t use your birthday as the passcode for a keypad lock. Personal information, such as a birthday can be acquired on the Internet.

You can instead get key-less locks which require a code. You can install it yourself.

Home alarms are only valuable if they alert the police when a robbery is in progress. Even better is to purchase alarms that are monitored centrally, so that the police are automatically contacted. The neighbors will not always call.

TIP! An alarm system can be a powerful way to make your home more secure, as long as it actually notifies the authorities when it’s tripped. This is why it’s a great idea to consider a centrally monitored system.

Find out more about the different contracts your chosen home security company has on offer. Each has its benefits and drawbacks. Longer contracts may create a lower bill per month, but you may not be able to get out of the contract if you need to. Shorter contracts may offer greater freedom along with higher cost.

Most people like to avoid their neighborhood gossip; however, you should consider having them on your side. If there is someone lurking around your house, your neighbors can be your eyes when you are not home. If you become friendly with them, the chance of them placing you under alert increases.

TIP! Although the nosey neighbor is often considered a nuisance, as a homeowner it can be valuable to forge relationships with gossipy types. If there are people lurking around your home that look suspicious, this busybody may be the first to notice.

Ask the company if they offer systems for lease or buy your security equipment. Buying outright costs a lot more in the beginning, but cheaper in the longer term. Leasing is often less expensive, but there may be hidden fees and contracts. Look into both of these to see what works for you.

You must always keep second-floor windows locked. People think no burglar will get up to that floor. Yes, burglars will go up there. This is the weak point of home security and criminal generally know this.

TIP! Always lock the windows in your home, no matter what floor they are on. Burglars may not use the front entrance, so this is important for you to do.

You want to always keep second-floor windows are locked. Many folks forget this point and believe that burglars won’t bother climbing your home. This is not be further from the truth. This is the weak area that criminals know this.

Although locks are good to use, you could not use them outside. Therefore this will not be of use to you. Use a deadbolt which has a key on the outside and inside for the best security.

TIP! You need to install locks that are accessible from both inside and out. The best lock that you can choose are deadbolt locks, and the ones that have keys on both sides so that it cannot be opened by thieves are the ultimate choice.

Video surveillance systems do a crooks nightmare. Burglars don’t wear masks that are seen in movies are fake. Many people who burglarize homes don’t cover their face because they do not want to come into contact with people.

Try not to make your rooms visible to the outside world. If your valuables are visible from the street, it poses a danger. Consider putting in drapes or blinds in order to prevent people outside your home from seeing your interior furnishings. Without blinds or drapes, anyone is able to view valuables in your home.

TIP! Try not to have rooms that can be seen from outside. If you can easily view high-value items from outside the house, chances are that a potential thief may also be able to see them.

Search for a company that offers you more than just installing a home security system. Great home security companies are willing to come assess the house and make some recommendations that can keep your family much safer. You may be advised to install windows that are more secure, install deadbolts or upgrade your windows. You want to make sure your company truly cares about your security, and will discuss those issues with you.

Many times, someone knocks on your door claiming to need assistance only to bust it wide open when you answer. While you don’t have to ignore a stranger at your door in need of help, stay safe by placing a call for assistance from inside your home without opening your door. You can then choose to call the number given or call officers of the law, or both.

TIP! Some intruders will knock on your door and convince you to let them into your home, for instance by asking for help. If a stranger asks for help, keep the door closed and tell them you’ll request help.

Someone Knocks

Use lights that feature infrared detection. When a person approaches, the lights will come on. This is sure to cause any burglar to flee immediately! Once they know they have been spotted, they will leave quickly.

TIP! You can install outdoor lighting that includes infrared detection. When a person approaches, the lights will come on.

Many times folks have knocked on doors seeking assistance, someone knocks on your door claiming to need assistance only to bust it wide open when you answer.If someone knocks on your door for help, call for them from behind the door.

TIP!

Change the code for the garage door opener code! The code you get is standard for all units and can open many products. Thieves actually travel from home to home seeing if a certain garage they can open.

TIP!

Home security can be quite mysterious. Study of the subject should be a priority for anyone concerned about the safety of their possessions and their loved ones alike. Keep this article handy and refer to it as necessary.

TIP!

Blue widgets is a complex topic, which is why you should take the time to research it some more. This article has so much information, you’ll be ready to move forward with confidence. Apply the data that you take in from this article to real life.

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