Home Security ' Is It Really Necessary?

Remember the time when you could leave your doors and windows open and you didn't have to worry if your house would be robbed? Well, those days are over now. Statistics say that one in 20 homes gets robbed each year. So it's time to sit down and think how to avoid this happening to you by taking some preventive measures.

Criminals take the path of least resistance. No one is immune from burglary, but there are ways to deter criminals from choosing your home next. The most obvious first step is to upgrade the quality of locks on your windows and doors. Doors should have deadbolt locks which best protect you from a break-in. Windows should have wood screws through the outside of the panes, especially windows close to the ground on the first floor. Wood screws are inexpensive, easy to install and are available at most hardware stores.

Nobody wants to mess with a dog. If you don't care for large breed dogs, a small dog can protect your home just as well. A barking dog will attract attention, something criminals don't want. Another tip we can easily follow to prevent burglary is to keep all hedges around the outside of the home trimmed back. Shrubs and low trees give a criminal a place to hide from public view.

While you are away on vacation, a digital timer can make it appear as if someone is at home. Lamps, radios, televisions or anything that plugs into a wall can be automatically programmed to turn on and off throughout a 24-hour period.

Your home can also appear occupied by leaving a car in the driveway instead of leaving it in the garage. Coordinating a neighborhood watch program is also a good idea. No one knows better who and who doesn't belong in a neighborhood than you and your neighbors.

If you still don't feel safe in your home, you may want to consider home security options. There are no bargains in home security, but you will still want to shop around to compare cost, options and services. There are usually three prices associated with purchasing a home security system.

There is an initial cost for the equipment of the alarm system. The systems come with a number of features and options available to the consumer. The second cost involves installation. In some cases, there is one cost for the system and installation combined. The last cost is for monthly monitoring.

When your alarm goes off, a second silent alarm notifies the monitor company and local authorities. You may even find a company that is offering no charge for equipment or installation, just pay the monthly monitoring fee.

Another option in home security is a personal service security company. Patrol cars make visits to your home at different times throughout the day to check on your home. They do not come by at the same time every day and they only come by on days and times the customer has requested.


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