The Best Ways to Keep Your Home Secure

It's not something we like to think about, but fires, home invasions and thefts are all very real threats in our towns today. Home security is something that should be important to everyone - it doesn't matter if you live in an apartment, just purchased a townhouse or have lived in the same quiet neighborhood for the last 10 years.

Doesn't knowing that your house is protected give you peace of mind? Regardless of if you are out of town on vacation, at the office, or sitting in your basement enjoying a movie, you'll know your home is safe and protected.

But what if you have a great police department, highway patrol and fire department? You won't need a security system, right? Technically, you still do. There are a lot more homes in your city than there are police officers and who knows how many thieves there are floating around. It's absolutely crucial that you do everything you can to make your home a safe and secure place - without relying completely on other people.

Let's be honest, when you think of protecting your house, you think about purchasing one of those really expensive home security systems with all the bells and whistles - you know the ones I'm talking about, they send their people door to door selling and installing them all summer long. And, while those systems are a great options, there are other security measures you can take that won't break the bank. Depending on your home and neighborhood, you may decide you don't need a fancy system; but if you live in an area with a lot of crime, it may be worth it to pay the money to get a high-quality security system in your home.

If you aren't ready to take the plunge and get a home surveillance system, there are quite a few small and simple things you can do to make sure your home is as protected as it can be. Sometimes people worry about big home security systems and forget to think about the small things. Making sure these small things are done can add up quickly and help your home become a safer place.

Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they work. Dust and lint can build up on the sensors and cause them to perform poorly, so make sure they are clean and have fresh batteries. Also, if you can, try to install interconnected smoke alarms. These alarms are pretty amazing. If one alarm is triggered, all the alarms will go up - which will ensure you wake up in case of a fire in the basement or other end of the house. Choose roofing that is fire resistant. Don't leave notes on your front door for delivery or service people if you aren't home. That's a big tipoff to burglars that your home is empty (and open!). Don't use indoor extension cords outside. A freezer can hold food safely for 48 hours after the power goes out. Don't try to charge non-rechargeable batteries, the batteries can explode. Don't toss oily rags into the trash. These rags combust easily, even if they aren't exposed directly to a flame. Hang the rags outside to dry and then throw them away in a metal can with a lid. Use a locked mailbox at your home. Try not to send mail with your personal information in an unsecured out-box. If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, turn your phone ringer down to the lowest volume possible.

If you don't have the money to invest in a home security system right now, try starting small. By following these simple steps, you can ensure your house will be a safer place.

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Secure Your Valuables - Hide Them in Plain Sight

While many burglaries are indeed random acts of crime taken by opportunistic thieves, there are many professional burglars that go to lengthy and meticulous lengths in order to choose the right victim and make out with as much loot as possible. These "professionals" typically have a list of things that they look for, and will spend extensive amounts of time casing a home before acting. During interviews with some of these long-time criminals, there are several things that stand out. The main theme with all of them is that most houses did not even need to be broken into.

After choosing a home to break into and spending some time learning the habits and schedules of its inhabitants, a professional burglar will then enter through an open window or unlocked door. This is not only easy for them, but also leaves behind the least trace that anyone was there. After entering the home, professionals say that they spend 10 minutes max in each home. During this time, they search for cash, handguns, jewelry, credit cards and any other items that are both valuable and small enough to grab.

Naturally, these career criminals have a pretty solid system for choosing and looting the homes that they burglarize. Aside from the obvious step of always locking all doors and windows, what else can you do to foil their plans? Over time, robbers develop habits that they follow fairly closely after entering a home. As a rule, homeowners tend to keep their valuables in very similar and predictable places. One of the best ways to avoid your valuables being picked up is to put them in places that are not so predictable. Believe it or not, one of the most secure places to hide something during a home invasion is in plain sight.

While most people choose "hidden" places, such as shoeboxes, pillows or underneath beds, these are the first places that a robber will visit to find your property. Hiding your items in plain sight doesn't necessarily mean leaving items out on a table. Although this can sometimes work, your best bet is to hide your items in something that is seemingly invaluable. One great invention for doing this is the diversion safe or hidden safe.

The diversion safe is an item that appears to be a regular household item. It could look like anything from a soda can, to a bleach bottle, to a flower pot or even a book. You can incorporate these into your everyday décor, keep them in your pantry or place them on your bookshelf. Because these safes are often difficult to open, and blend into the decorating scheme of your home, they are typically the last place that a burglar will look in the 5 to 10 minutes that they are in your home.

By employing basic home security and home surveillance principles such as always locking doors and windows, closing your garage door and employing diversion safes for cash, valuables and weapons, you can be more likely to not only deter thieves, but to divert them away from your actual valuables. When you do this, you can sustain smaller losses and less disruption in the event that your home is actually targeted.

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