Home security is an important topic to many, but it is also one that not enough people understand sufficiently. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tips-for-chur...7-a1a3-0d1e45a6de3d_story.html to know how to truly protect your home and its contents is to study the subject as comprehensively as you can. This article is a terrific start.

Install a peep hole so that you can see who is at your door before you open it. Criminals will knock at a door so that they can push past you when you open it. You should never open a door without knowing the person that is on the other side of it.



Hide your spare key in a place where no one would think to look for it. Common places to hide a spare key are above your door frame or underneath your doormat. Therefore, thieves are more likely to check these places out first. An example would be to attach a key to your dog's collar, if he stays outdoors.

Do you have any exposed wires on the outside of your home? If so, hide them. Burglars will often try to cut off power to your alarm system or phone before breaking in. If there are wires that they can see, you are just making their job easier on them.

If you have every been the victim of a robbery, you are likely to see the value of a home security system. Your peace of mind can take precedence over the expense of installing the system. Shop carefully to be sure you are getting the best system available at the best price.

Add lights to your lawn. You don't need crazy bright spotlights to keep thieves away. All you need is some decent general lighting that makes your property just a little less appealing to criminals than homes that offer a lot more cover. You can even use lights on timers to help save on the overall electricity bill while still helping to keep you safe.

Pretend you are a burglar. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can check for vulnerable areas around your property. Really think hard about ways you would get into your home if you were a criminal. Check the garage as well as sheds or other places you keep valuable possessions.

Pretend you are a burglar. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can check for vulnerable areas around your property. Really think hard about ways you would get into your home if you were a criminal. Check the garage as well as sheds or other places you keep valuable possessions.

Keep your patio doors locked. If you do not have a lock on the doors, you can still keep your home safe. Place a metal bar or piece of pipe in the bottom track of your door's slide. It should be the same length as the track of the door.

When you have little children, there is always a concern that they will somehow wander away from the house. If you do not want to invest in an entire home security system, you can buy inexpensive single alarms. You can place these alarms on doors and windows, and they will go off if one of the kids opens them.

Lock up your home, even if you are around. Many people think that their neighborhood is the safest out there. They'll leave their doors unlocked all day (and night long) without a second thought! This is inviting trouble. Make it a habit to lock those doors (and windows) even if you're home. It's probably the most important basic thing you can do for your family's overall safety.

If the home security system you are looking to hire uses an outside monitoring company, make sure to research that company well. Monitoring is an important component to any home security system, and you want to make sure your monitoring is handled in a professional way. Make some phone calls, research the monitoring company on the Internet and check with companies like the Better Business Bureau.

Pretend you are a burglar. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can check for vulnerable areas around your property. Really think hard about ways you would get into your home if you were a criminal. Check the garage as well as sheds or other places you keep valuable possessions.

Put down a fence in your yard to secure the area that is yours and prevent burglars from coming in. Make sure that this fence is high enough so that it is very difficult for any robbers to get over it. This will add a strong layer of protection around the perimeter of your house.


Be careful who you give your keys to. Be especially careful with one-time contractors who work around your home. Make sure continue reading this are a reputable company. Some shadier contractors make duplicate keys to your home to break in easily later. Check with the business resources in your area to assure the contractor's reputation is clean.

Your furry friend is a great home security system, too. These pets are usually territorial and want to protect their masters. You don't even need a huge, vicious dog. Even small dogs can keep intruders away since they don't want lots of noise when committing crimes.

Put up curtains and drapes in rooms where you have really expensive equipment or prized possessions. Certainly open them and enjoy the beautiful weather on days you are in the room and know no one is looking in. However, when not in those rooms or home, close them so you don't advertise your possessions to the world.

If you really feel you need a spare key around, don't hide it under your doormat or in the garage. Instead, give it to a neighbor you trust. In fact, swapping keys with them ensures both of your homes are safe, but you can get in if you lose your own keys.

While posting photos of yourself on vacation to Twitter or Facebook may be nice, it is also an open invitation to crooks asking them to break into your home - after all, you're not there! Share your photos once you get back instead to ensure no one knows your house is vacant.

You now know more about home security so that you can make the right decision for your family. You want to put safety as a top concern in your home, especially if you have children. Think about the information that you've read, and then come up with a plan to put it to good use.