Security Tips
You've just returned from a two-week vacation to find your home ransacked by burglars. Few things can jolt you out of a relaxed vacation mood more quickly than becoming a crime victim. Unfortunately, July and August are the highest months of the year for break-ins.
To protect your home while you're away on vacation, the Insurance Information Institute offers these tips:
- Make your home look lived-in. Leave the blinds open in their usual position. Install automatic timers to turn lights and radios on and off at appropriate times.
- Ask a friend to pick up mail, or forward it to the post office. Stop newspaper delivery and have someone mow your lawn and water the flowers. Transfer valuables to a safe deposit box.
- Lower the sound of your telephone and answering machine so it can't be heard from outside. Make sure your voicemail message doesn't imply that you are away.
- Ask the police or a friend to check on the house. Let them know where you can be reached in an emergency.
- Get involved with a neighborhood watch group. Working with your neighbors to spot trouble is one of the most effective ways to prevent crime.
For more information, call your local law enforcement agency or your insurance agent
Feeling safe and secure is an important element in enjoying your home. If you're purchasing a new home or considering a remodel or addition to your existing residence, you'll need to assess your security needs for doors and windows.
If you've had the same locks and keys for your house for several years, you may want to re-key existing locks or upgrade your locks with some of the newer materials and devices. A professional locksmith service will be able to assist you in making these decisions as well as providing installation.
Locksmiths can offer services for installing and repairing safes, as well as offering options such as doorknob installation, keyless entry, remote control entry and custom dead bolt installation.
Door viewers, which allow you to see your visitors before letting them in, may also be installed. And gate locks, which can provide an added measure of security, may be included in your overall security plan.
A professional locksmith should always be part of your roster of experts for your home. Aside from providing your overall nuts-and-bolts security system, the locksmith can be called upon for special services. Life's little emergencies include getting locked out of your home, becoming locked in a room (which small children are prone to do), and getting locked out of your automobile.
Home security is very important to peace of mind, and many factors go into determining how secure a home will be.
Most people find home security issues confusing and end up spending money on measures that aren't really effective or appropriate for their home. Here are the issues you should consider in making your home more secure.
Outdoor Home Security Factors
While installing a home security system is very effective, it is also important to address the low cost items first.
Burglars want to get the most loot in the shortest time with the least amount of risk. To improve your odds, use motion detectors to activate outdoor lighting and increase outdoor lighting. Make sure entrances and windows are visible from a distance. Eliminate or trim shrubbery and trees that can provide cover for thieves. When going out of town, make arrangements for lawn care, get someone to retrieve the mail and newspapers, and use timers to mimic the lighting pattern of an occupied home.
Once a burglar decides to target a home, he attempts to gain entry as inconspicuously as possible. Good window and door locks (such as deadbolts) can stop or at least slow down the intruder. Most give up if they meet too many obstacles.
Home Security Systems
If the intruder is persistent, anything from a barking dog to a sophisticated alarm system can also help. Alarm systems vary enormously in their cost and sophistication. If your home has many valuables or is in a neighborhood subject to many thefts, it makes sense to go with a more sophisticated system.
All home security systems can be compromised or bypassed, but high-end systems stump all but the most masterful of thieves.
Most alarm systems include a system to initiate an alarm manually if you suspect an intruder. This can be very important for your personal safety. Ideally, any unauthorized entry should trigger an alarm, encouraging the intruder to flee.
Many people choose to place the alarm keypad for their security system at the front or back door of their home. It's a handy place, but thieves know that as well, so you might want to have a second keypad installed in your bedroom or office or use a dual system that needs two different disabling mechanisms.
Security doors won't be kicked in as easily as regular doors and can't be seen through. Motion detectors are a simple way to detect intruders, but sound, lasers and infrared (heat-tripped) detectors work even more effectively. A good rule of thumb is to choose a system that makes you comfortable.
Home Security Check
Call your local police department to see if they offer free security checks of your home. Adding extra security features should be driven by the "ambient" risks (e.g., location of neighborhood, the home's attractiveness to thieves) and your own psychological well-being. Very little can stop a determined criminal, but every home protection service or feature you install will add to your peace of mind.
