High crime areas are not the only places that should be concerned about protecting the homes of citizens. Burglary and home invasions can happen to anyone, no matter how nice the neighborhood is. Read the tips in this article in order to quickly make your home more secure and safe.
Trim back the brush aside your home. It may look pretty, but you are giving criminals a hiding place right near your house. Instead, keep an open grassy area between your home and your landscaping. This will help keep unwanted people from getting a close eye view through your windows.
To avoid being accidentally locked out of their own home, some people like to hide a key to their house in various outside places, such as under a flower pot, under the welcome mat or inside a fake rock in their landscaping. If you are guilty of this behavior, stop immediately! Numerous home invasions occur because the intruder searched for a hidden key and found it. It will be less costly to call a locksmith than it is to replace your stolen valuables.
Changing the locks on your home can be a great way to increase security. Locks should always be changed when buying a new home. There could be numerous people that had copies of the keys, from the real estate agent to the previous owners. Locks should also be changed whenever your keys become lost, or after a break-up in a relationship.
Did you know that many cable companies offer smart home alarms now? This is a great way to get a quality system installed and monitored in your home by someone you can trust. They usually offer very competitive rates with other home security companies as well. You may even get a discount if you have cable service with the same company.
When people come to your door unexpectedly, ask who is there before you open the door. Even if you live in a neighborhood that does not have a high crime rate, it is still a good idea to be careful. If the person on the other side is hesitant about replying, never open the door.
Never open the door if you are not expecting company. Always look first, whether it is through a peephole or through a window. If you don't know the person at the door, and you feel uncomfortable, just don't answer it. If it is someone important, they can always come back or call you on the phone.
Ask your alarm system if they provide separate entry codes for cleaning people or maintenance men. If they do, take advantage of this feature. In many instances, you can arm the system to allow entry with that code only at specific times of day. This will help prevent potential thieves from entering your house during the evening hours or at other times when they know you might not be at home.
Your door frame should be replaced if the wood around it is rotting. Rotted wood can be easily removed by thieves. Replace rotting wood with fresh wood to improve your home's security.
If your alarm goes off frequently, get it fixed as soon as possible. If your neighbors think your alarm is always going off, they are unlikely to report it to the police. That means it could be a real break in, but no one will actually do anything about it.
If you need to hide a spare key, do so in a safe manner. Putting it under your doormat, in a plant hanging by the door, in your garage hung on the wall or in the mailbox are all poor choices. Instead, bury it somewhere and mark it in a non-descript way.
Do not let too many people know you are going on vacation. Though you may be able to trust some of your neighbors, you never know who they could tell or who else may be listening. If you need your pets taken care of or plants watered when you are away, have a close friend or family member come to your home.
As stated in the beginning of the article, citizens in high crime areas are not the only people that should worry about home security. Never assume that you are exempt from something horrible happening to you. Remember the useful tips in this article so you can protect you and your family.
