4 Tips For Better Home Security
If you are looking to improve your home security, there are several things you can do. The following tips are easy to do and will not only protect your personal belongings when you are away, but will protect your family and pets if a burglar decides to target you while you are at home. Here are some ways to improve your home security.
Don't Use Obvious Hide-a-Keys
One thing to make sure you do is hide your key in a smart location. Don't choose locations that criminals are already aware of, such as inside your mail box or under your doormat. Also don't use hide-a-keys, as these are also well known by criminals. They will be looking for a hide-a-key rock, turtle, or frog on your front porch or near your door. If you decide to use a rock that hides a key, it should be completely inconspicuous and identical to all other rocks. A better idea is to leave your spare key somewhere in the back of your house or inside your home's electrical panel.
Keep Lights Turned On
When you are planning on leaving your home, whether for a night out or on a weekend trip, make it appear as if you are home. You can do this by keeping the lights or a television on while you are gone. You can have timers set that turn lights or electronics on so burglars will think you are home and won't target you. Homes that are made obvious they are vacant with multiple newspapers in the driveway also become a target.
Trim Trees and Bushes
Another thing criminals will look for is a home that could easily hide them if they decide to break in. If you have tall trees, they might climb them in order to get to a window on the top floor of your home, since they might see that a top-floor window has been left unlocked. In other cases, they target homes with a lot of large bushes and trees near the front entrance, since it hides them from neighbors that might otherwise call the police. Keep all trees and bushes trimmed away from your home so they have nowhere to hide.
Have a Burglar Alarm Installed
It is also a good idea to have a burglar alarm installed. This will hopefully deter criminals when they see the sign on your window that says you have an alarm system. Even if they still attempt to break in, the alarm will sound, which instantly calls the police. In most cases, the criminal leaves your home before taking anything when they hear the alarm sound. You can also get an alarm from a company like Alliance Appliance Of Rockland & Authentic Alarm with a motion detector so that if they walk up to your door, lights go on and they will run off.