Home Security Tips To Live By
Your home is your personal refuge. It should be the safest place for you, your family, and your love ones to reside. The last thing you want to do is let chaos get inside. The outside world is filled with craziness and this order and you want to make sure that you don’t let it get in.
Reduce the risk of crime by making taking these precautions. Think about how a burglar would act; evaluate your home in terms of weaknesses and strengths. Home security is of the utmost importance for your family, so take time to assess your home’s vulnerabilities.
Windows are a good place to start. Were you aware that about a third of burglaries occur with the thief entering via an unsecured window? To make your windows less susceptible to burglaries, consider getting enhanced security glass panes, which are laminated and harder to break. Or, if you don’t want to replace your current window panes, use locks.
Thieves can see window locks from the outside; they are less likely to target a house with window locks as it adds up to more work and to potentially higher risk of exposure, as they would have to break the glass to get in. Many home security stores or even hardware and home improvement shops offer inexpensive locks that fit most types of windows. These usually come with keys that should be stored away in a safe place. You should lock up all downstairs windows and windows that may be easy to reach. Even smaller skylights may be vulnerable, so lock them up.
Let’s take a look at doors. Over half of all break-ins originate at an unsecured door. Preventing this requires good locks. You should get deadbolts loss with at least 1 inch of throw to be installed on all of your doors. The strike plates should have screws and a minimum of 3 inches. Exterior doors should all be made of solid hardwood or metal. Reinforcing of the doors with a steel strip and plates will also add to better security.
The hinges should be located inside with non-removable pins. You can install a rim lock to the inside of a door for added security; these lock automatically when the door closes. Fit bolts to the top and bottom of all outside doors. All entrances should have some sort of door viewer installed so you can see who’s outside. You can also use a chain for answering the door; don’t rely on it for reinforcement though, as it is easily broken.
Don’t leave yourself open to making it easy for a thief. Do not leave spare keys in obvious places. Remember, you may think you’re being clever but a thief knows all the secret hiding places. If you do hide keys, change the location every month. Don’t hide keys near windows, doors, under the doormat, or in a flower pot.
Lighting is also very important for your safety. Well lit entrances will keep you from getting surprise visitors. Also, lights active as a deterrent. You can find many different kinds of security lights that will not use a lot of power. Make the lights hard to get too so they can’t be disconnected. Also consider motion activated lights.
Finally, when you think about it, a good home security system may also be in your best interest. By getting a home alarm you are adding that extra layer of protection to your home. You are also connected to a monitoring center in the event that you have a fire, or a major emergency. The monitoring system can send out help quickly.
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