| Home security has become a great deal more | | | | stay out of town? A "yes" to any one of these |
| complicated than a lock on the front door and | | | | questions means that your home may be an |
| closing all of the ground floor windows. High tech | | | | easy target for a burglar. There are many simple |
| security systems work to protect our homes day | | | | ways to eliminate the appearance of an empty |
| and night, and occasionally require some upgrading | | | | home, or to remove some key clues that you |
| or additional efforts on the part of a home or | | | | are not home all day. |
| business owner. | | | | One of the simplest methods of making a home |
| Today's home security systems consist of | | | | appear occupied is by turning on and off lighting |
| several items and ideas, and they often require a | | | | and other electrical appliances. There is an |
| bit of planning and organization. When performing | | | | abundance of simple to use timers that lamps, |
| a security assessment on your home, you must | | | | stereos or even televisions can be connected to |
| realize that both the interior and exterior of the | | | | and that will turn them on periodically during the |
| house need protection. The type of neighborhood | | | | day or night. It is also critical to have a friend or |
| or area of a town that you live in may effect or | | | | neighbor pick up your mail and newspapers if you |
| impact your home security needs. Also, if your | | | | will be away, as a stack of these items is a clear |
| property has outbuildings such as a garages or | | | | indicator that no one is at home. |
| sheds, these too should also be included in your | | | | In addition to awareness, and community |
| home security system or plan. | | | | connection, a good home security plan will also |
| The first factor to consider is reality - regardless | | | | contain some basic equipment, which includes high |
| of where you live there is always a chance that a | | | | quality deadbolts on all exterior doors. This should |
| burglar, or burglars, will target your home or | | | | include any doors connecting a home to an |
| property. However, there are always certain | | | | outbuilding such as a garage or shed. All exterior |
| areas or even neighborhoods that see a higher | | | | doors should be reinforced, and many |
| level of crime or house burglary. If your home or | | | | manufacturers make such doors in decorative |
| property is within one of these areas it is | | | | styles to accommodate the market for attractive |
| necessary to develop a plan for home protection. | | | | yet secure homes. |
| Why not include neighbors and implement a | | | | Windows should also be considered key pieces of |
| "neighborhood watch"? This is a great way to | | | | home security equipment, with strong locking |
| bring awareness to a community, meet neighbors | | | | mechanisms, bars or bolts to secure sliding |
| and significantly lower the security threat to many | | | | mechanisms and if at all possible to have |
| homes and businesses. | | | | shatterproof glass. A good home security |
| Once you identify your neighborhood trends, you | | | | assessment will also note if a window is hidden |
| should next identify your own habits. Is your | | | | from the street or view of neighbors and steps |
| house empty for the majority of the day, or | | | | should be taken to make sure such windows are |
| night? Are you at work for long stretches of | | | | completely secure. |
| time? Are you planning on a vacation or extended | | | | |