Home security is on everyone’s minds these days, as we Americans are feeling more and more vulnerable in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and even our country. Do what you can to secure your own little part of the world by increasing your home security.

Nowadays, deadbolts and a Doberman aren’t enough. Sophisticated criminals get past such home security measures, and violent criminals know how to bypass your basic home security. You have to fight to keep them out. Home Security Stores gives you the defenses and the weapons to protect your castle.

The Statistics

It may shock you to know that more than 40 percent of break-ins occur during the day, in broad daylight. Criminals know when you are away at work or school, and they take that chance to smash-n-grab. Secure your home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because you never know when a criminal will strike.

Basic Home Security

Though basic home security may not be enough, it should not be ignored. Protecting your home starts with three basic home security measures: lock up, yard word, and light up.

1) Lock Up

Begin by installing sturdy locks on all your doors and windows. It may be tempting to leave the door unlocked when you are home, or to leave the window open on a hot night, but that is poor home security. Home security common sense requires you to remain vigilant at all times, and that includes properly securing yourself in your home.

2) Do Some Yard Work

Next, trim back bushes from lower windows. Criminals can easily hide in bushes and break in through windows. Trees provide problems as well, so cut tree limbs that create easy access to upper stories. The thought of someone scaling a tree to break into your home may seem implausible, but it happens. Total home security is a must, no matter how unlikely something seems to you.

3) Light Up

Finally, put the criminal in the spotlight—literally. Light up your property with motion sensor lights or flood lights that leave criminals nowhere to hide. Home security starts by making criminals NOT want to break into your home. Shedding some light on the matter may be enough to drive them away.

Three Best Home Security Options

But what if this criminal is particularly determined to get past your basic home security? Not to fear, because technological advances have made home security into a powerful art form.

Home Security Stores offer a wide variety of methods to protect your home and family. Home security can mean alarms, locks, motion sensors, safes, and personal safety devices.

Option 1: Alarms

When we hear the term home security, alarms are what we might think of first. Whether wired or wireless, home security alarm systems are a major deterrent for criminals. They monitor points of entry, such as doors and windows, or they monitor for motion when the home should be empty.

• Motion Sensor Home Security

Motion sensor home security monitors and detects when unauthorized motion occurs in what should be an empty home. Modern motion sensor home security can even distinguish between a pet and a criminal, making this method of home security even more effective and dependable. Install a motion sensor home security alarm system in your home and know you have no unwelcome guests.

• Window Break Home Security

Windows are a popular point of entry because they are made of breakable glass. But there are home security devices that can detect when that glass is broken, setting off an alarm and scaring away the intruder.

Option 2: Motion Sensor Floodlights

We’ve already suggested good lighting around the exterior of your home, but you can save some energy by installing home security motion sensor floodlights that only come on when motion is detected. Security professionals highly recommend floodlights as a criminal deterrent.

Option 3: Security Cameras

How about having your home guarded 24/7 by a watchful eye? Security cameras, which are popular with merchants and other businesses, are fast becoming popular home security devices as well. A home security camera system monitors and records activities going on anywhere around your house. You can monitor a live feed or secretly tape what’s going on when you are away from home. Cameras act as an excellent deterrent and are extremely useful in the prosecution of criminals. Home security cameras catch them in the act.

So Many More Options

You have many options in home security. Complete home security means securing your home from more than just intruders. Protect yourself and your family from a variety of emergencies with:

• Smoke Alarms
• Heat Sensors
• Fireproof Safes
• Freeze Alarms
• Temperature Sensors
• Water Alarms
• Water Sensors
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors
• Personal Safety Alarms
• Pepper Spray
• Animal Repellent
• Panic Buttons
• Guide Lights
• Voice Dialers
• Biometric Readers
• Wireless Intercoms

Home security is big business these days. Follow our simple guidelines and you’ll have peace of mind and comfort in your home.

There are certain benefits and disadvantages, from a security standpoint, to living in an apartment or condominium.

In a complex of any size, management often takes on the responsibility of providing security, at least in general. They will sometimes hire private guards. But even when they don’t, in the majority of cases they take some efforts to see that the grounds are secure. That helps them, of course, since a secure environment makes the complex a more desirable place to live.

But most will not concern themselves with individual security as, realistically, they cannot. There are typically simply too many units to protect one-by-one. They may have fences, even alarm systems, but only for the perimeter and selected buildings. They can’t afford to look after each apartment or condo.

That means the responsibility for security rests on the shoulders of those who are most directly concerned: the tenant. Fortunately, there are a great many things that can be done inexpensively to do that.

The obvious involves such things as keeping windows and doors locked. Most complexes won’t allow installing an individual alarm system, but fortifying entrances with proper locks, window bars and so forth can certainly be done. Sometimes the expense will be a joint effort. Other times it is up to the tenant alone. But the expense and effort are well worth it, since it’s the tenant’s possessions and safety at issue.

Behaviour plays a large part in personal security, and that can be carried out in a complex at least as easily as in a neighbourhood. A neighbourhood watch program can be developed within an apartment or condo setting. In many cases, this is easier to carry out in that situation than in a housing tract. There are more people around during all hours, typically, and the view is often more open.

Personal behaviour plays a part, too. Don’t admit strangers through the gate, ‘as a favour’, even if they give you the name of a neighbour. Walking to and from the garage or parking area at night or when there is no one else around is a concern. Walking with keys or pepper spray canister in hand is a reasonable precaution for most women. Being aware of the surroundings is wise for everyone.

Just as with a house, don’t admit strangers unless they’re from reputable companies you do business with regularly. They may decide to come back later when you’re not there. Or, worse, when you are. Take a peek through the peephole and require identification. Thieves may go to the trouble to disguise a vehicle, but they rarely carry proper ID cards, since they don’t expect to be asked.

Lastly, whenever possible, consider security when selecting an apartment to rent or condo to buy. After moving in it is usually too late to get the owners to change locks, improve lighting or repair a gate lock. But beforehand, you may have some leverage. It may require going with another choice. Weighing the options of where to live can be difficult, but security considerations should be high on the list.

FREE Security Advice

Home security involves protecting the house from all imaginable angles. Maintaining a safe, secure home environment means making sure all entry points are not damaged or compromised; for instance an overlooked area of the house that often requires serious door repair San Diego home security specialists tell us, is the back of the house where burglars often enter the home in a home invasion. To increase security at home, experts strongly recommend readers to consider the following measures.

Lights that are motion-sensitive: Prevent nighttime prowlers from breaking into your home by installing motion-sensitive lights. Installing a solar-powered light won’t even require electrical wiring — it gets all the power it needs from the sun and attaches to your home’s exterior with the screws provided. A 12-foot cable lets you position the light and the solar panel in different locations for maximum sunlight retention.

Securing Auxiliary Doors And Investing in San Diego Roll Up Door Repair For Worn-Out Garage And Roll Up Doors

For both commercial roll up doors and home garages doors, though using a case-hardened steel padlock is an effective temporary fix if you don’t have a self-locking automatic garage door, investing in fixing damaged doors is the best long-term solution in preventing break-ins of this kind.

After securing your home’s front and back doors and the windows, it’s important to look for other points of vulnerability. Homeowners often overlook safeguarding them, however, they must be aware that attached garages and sliding doors that open onto patios and balconies are favorite points of entry for burglars.

Sliding door

Locking bar: The standard locks that come with sliding doors are easy to pry open. Use a locking bar (or a wooden dowel) to keep the door from being forced open. Also be sure to seriously consider investing in San Diego glass replacements for old, damaged sliding glass doors and windows to further discourage burglars from breaking into your property.

If there is too much space between a sliding door and its upper track, the door can be picked up, tilted outward, and removed — just like a sliding shower door. Leaving just enough room for the door to slide by installing screws along the inside of the upper track prevents the door from being able to be lifted out.

Doors with knobs

Door jammer: Ideal for a hotel room or a rented apartment or house with weak locks, a door jammer is essentially a door stopper on a stick. It looks like a footed cane, with a top that hooks under the doorknob and a base that grips the floor, preventing your door from being forced inward. A door jammer is easy to use and fits in a suitcase. For more information on home security, contact your local San Diego locksmiths to learn more.

With the festive season fast approaching, we are left with many decisions and preparations to make before packing our trailers and making our way to our holiday destinations. Ensuring the security of family and property is a key priority at this time.

Statistics clearly show that criminal activity increases during the holiday season and it is therefore imperative for homeowners to take the right precautions and not let their guard down.

There are several handy tips to bear in mind which can help alleviate the risk to family and property. The first and most important step to take is to ensure that your alarm is in working order. People tend to forget that an alarm system, like a car, has parts that age and wear out and therefore should be serviced at least once a year.

Spectacular thunderstorms during the summer months, can also wreak havoc on alarm systems. As a result of this, clients should regularly check their systems in case of lightning damage. Homeowners who have house insurance should also consider that in the event of a burglary, their insurance company will, in all likelihood, question whether they have properly maintained their alarm.

December is traditionally a busy period for security companies, so homeowners should try and test their alarms at least three weeks before going on holiday. Testing should be done anytime (ideally between 0800 and 2000 hours Mon-Fri) and if a fault is discovered, it can be immediately reported to the security service provider’s technical team.

Additional security tips to follow include:

• Advise your security company if you are going away and ensure that you supply all the necessary information regarding nearby emergency contacts, in case of an emergency

• Inform your neighbours of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property

• Stop all newspaper deliveries and ask a friend or neighbour to collect your post. A bulging post box is a real giveaway that you are not at home

• If hiring a house sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly

• Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home

• Ensure that all your outside locks are a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks

• Never leave a key in the inside of an outer door which has glass panels or glass near the door lock

• Having security gates fitted on outer doors is a highly effective security measure that gives you an extra line of defence

• Sliding doors can be secured simply by placing a piece of timber cut to size in the sliding rail. Make sure that sliding doors cannot be lifted vertically

• Full fencing and sturdy gates are a good deterrent

• Have good exterior lighting, preferably on a timer

• Do not leave ladders, spades or tools outside, as they can be used to break into your house

• Clear signage indicating that you have security also helps to discourage

Burglars

Another important security tip is to be discreet when preparing to go away. People should where possible pack their cars in their garage. Homeowners should also never leave a message on their answering machine stating that they are out of town.

The festive season should be a time of relaxation and giving but let’s ensure that we are not giving our belongings to criminals on a golden platter.

Due to the increase in door-to-door salesman, criminals looking to scope out your residence, and other annoyances, you may sometimes feel that answering your door isn’t worth it.  When you do finally answer your door and find a door-to-door salesman, you may have a very tough time getting rid of them.  They will continue to hassle you and keep coming back until you support their group or buy one of their “innovative” products.

To prevent this from happening and keep unwanted company from bothering you, you should use a protective barrier between your door and the street.  You don’t really need a 15 foot high electric fence, as even the most basic of fencing will do the trick.  You can install a simple decorative fence around your yard, complete with locking gate, to keep any type of solicitors at bay.

Although a fence is a great way to achieve privacy, not everyone has a yard that they can build a fence on.  You can also use a gate that blocks entry to your porch or front door, as this way you can keep the gate locked at all times.  The main idea and theory here is to make it difficult to approach the door to your home.  This way, salesman, solicitors, and even snoops will see that it requires a lot of effort to reach you – and they will normally just give up and move on.

Even though a fence or locked gate are great, you can’t overlook a dog either.  A barking dog can be very effective, as trespassers simply can’ t look over a dog that is barking.  Barking dogs aren’t the same as a fence or gate, although they are very common these days.  Keep in mind however, that the effectiveness of a dog with scaring off unwanted guests will greatly depend on the disposition and character of the dog you have.

Nearly every dog will bark when it sees a stranger, although not every dog will prevent someone from coming to your door unless it has been trained to do so.  A lot of door-to-door salesman and snoops deal with dogs on a daily basis, and will normally just ignore the dog and the barking and proceed to come to your door.  If the dog is more of a violent nature and appears ready to strike, then it will be a different store.  If the salesman or snoop notices the dog is ready to bite, he will normally stop in his tracks and turn around – out of the fear of getting bit.

Keep in mind that having a dog doesn’t mean that you have to blood train him or put him on steroids to keep unwanted visitors away.  What you need, is an aggressive dog that will stand his ground and help you keep your privacy.  When a solicitor visits your home and sees your aggressive dog, he won’t want to sacrifice a sale at the risk of getting bit by your dog.

As annoying as door-to-door solicitors are, there are ways that you can improve your security and your privacy around your home.  You can also invest in home surveillance systems as well, to further enhance your privacy and security.  For solicitors, fencing with a locked gate is the best way to go, if you have the room for it.  On the other hand, if you don’t have the space for a fence, you can always use a dog or other options. Privacy and security is very important – which is why you don’t want solicitors invading your space.

Don’t forget, Hustlers and Con Artists know a lot more about the psychology of their victims than security engineers typically do; and therefore that the latter might learn useful lessons from the former. The paper describes several different con scenarios and then lists and explains six general psychological principles that con artists use. They are as follows.

1. The distraction principle. While you are distracted by what retains your interest, hustlers can do anything to you and you won’t notice.

2. The social compliance principle. Society trains people not to question authority. Hustlers exploit this “suspension of suspiciousness” to make you do what they want.

3. The herd principle. Even suspicious marks will let their guard down when everyone next to them appears to share the same risks. Safety in numbers? Not if they’re all conspiring against you.

4. The dishonesty principle. Anything illegal you do will be used against you by the fraudster, making it harder for you to seek help once you realize you’ve been had.

5. The deception principle. Thing and people are not what they seem. Hustlers know how to manipulate you to make you believe that they are.

6. The need and greed principle. Your needs and desires make you vulnerable. Once hustlers know what you really want, they can easily manipulate you.

Don’t be a Victim. Protect Your Home Today.

Exterior Security Make sure garage, shed and property gates and fully secured after every use. Purchase more secure locks if necessary. Expensive gardening equipment should be security locked away such as lawn mowers. Be sure all garage doors are locked when leaving the house If you have a door connecting the garage to the house it should be solid wood or metal and secured with a strong lock and dead bolt.

Your garage door should be fitted with a strong security lock which is preferably secured to the floor. Get into the habit of always locking your car door when you come home at night. Bicycles and motorbikes should be secured or locked away safe. If you own ladders make you these are all secured or locked away.

Don’t allow drain pipes to be used to gain access to upper floors. Shrubs, trees and bushes should all be pruned so the burglar cannot hide. Install exterior security floodlighting that works with a motion sensor. Be sure any outdoor lighting is switched on in the evening.

So an emergency service can find your house in an emergency, make sure your house number or name is clearly visible Imagine you have locked yourself out – how easy could you break in? Fix any weaknesses that can allow an easy entry for the burglar.

Exterior Door Security Your external doors should be of solid hardwood or metal construction. Glass panels should be reinforced. Fit a peep hole for viewing visitors. Fit a deadbolt lock into the frame of the door. Always make sure exterior doors are locked, even if you go out for a couple of minutes and especially at night. Give extra keys to a neighbor you can trust and never hide them under the front doormat or in a flower pot.

Window Security Check for rotting window frames and replace if necessary. Secure every window in the house with a high security window lock. Consider security window bars if you think your windows could be smashed in order to gain entry.

General Security Around The Home Use interior timers for your lamps. This will give the impression someone is at home. Use a security safe for all your valuables or deposit them in a bank. Keep firearms security locked in an appropriate firearms cupboard. This should be fitted with a trigger guard lock. Keep an up to date inventory of all of your possessions.

Take digital photos of your possessions and valuables and burn the photos to DVD. Put the DVD in a bank safety deposit box. Have emergency telephone numbers next to your telephone. Make sure your whole family is aware of an evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency such as a fire. Let trusted neighbour know that you are going on vacation so they can watch over your property.

Security mark all valuable items such as your computer, TV, Hi-Fi etc… with an appropriate identification mark as recognized by your local police. Cancel deliveries and papers when on vacation And of course, activate your alarm system when leaving your property.

When you decide to sell your home, and it’s going to be vacant, you may be thinking of installing an home security alarm system. But before you do, you have to make sure you understand a few things. For starters, the secret code won’t be a secret for long. Whether it’s published on the MLS, or given to all potential buyer’s agents via phone or email, the secret will be out.

Alarms provide protection while your home is vacant or not. But you have to remember that the alarm can actually become a nuisance when instructions aren’t followed, whether it’s the instruction on the listing page stating that the buyer’s agent should call beforehand for the code (and they don’t) or if the step-by-step instructions hanging on the wall directly next to the alarm seem to be written in some other language.

To avoid these mishaps, selling agents can opt to show the house by appointment only, since too many times buyers agents don’t call for the code and the proper authorities are contacted, the alarm company is contacted and eventually the selling agent is contacted. But there are other options too. That’s why you have to decide whether or not the alarm system is actually a good idea.

Here are some tips you can utilize if you don’t want the hassles of an alarm system:

Fool the dummies with dummies. Dummy cameras, yard signs and window decals are all great ways to try and fool an intruder. Install motion detectors for all areas. Front yard, back yard and the sides of your homes will light up if motion is detected and generally scare the intruder away. Timed interior lights could also deter intruders and trick them into thinking someone is home. As a selling agent, recommend to your clients that leaving some furniture in the home, including knick-knacks on windowpanes and a couch or hanging plants will help make the home look like someone is living there still.

Again, these are just some ideas to help you get through the joys of home selling, with hopefully, less stress. Alarm systems are a great way to secure your home, however sometimes they’re more of a hassle than a luxury.

Protecting them from physical attacks

Physical attacks can occur in the home or away from home and there are several things you can do to enhance the personal safety of family members:

1. Consider self defense courses for all family members;
2. Install a home security system that can keep unwelcome visitors out;
3. If it’s legal in your state, consider purchasing personal protection sprays for family members who go out at night or work in high risk areas like the city.

Guarding against theft and property damage

There are some simple steps you can take to protect your home and property from theft and damage.

1. A  – whether it’s a state of the art system or an inexpensive one – will help. If you’re on a budget you can consider inexpensive wireless systems or fake cameras.

2. External lighting – good motion detection lighting outdoor is a great deterrent. Potential intruders don’t want to be visible to either passers-by or the house occupants.

3. Keep any shrubs or trees near your front doors and windows trimmed – bushy sections might make your home feel more private but they also offer cover for

burglars.

4. If you’re going to be away for a few days or more, ask a neighbor to clear any mail from your letterbox, put your bin out on rubbish collection day and collect any delivered newspapers. Thieves notice unoccupied homes.

Financial Losses

You may not think of financial loss when you think of home security but you should. Here’s why:

Identify theft
Lack of or insufficient insurance

Invest in a shredder to destroy any documents you are discarding that contain personal, credit card or banking details. It’s very easy for identity thieves to rifle through rubbish bins under cover of darkness. While banks might cover your losses, it could take weeks for them to return funds to your account. Having your identity stolen can also wreak havoc with your credit rating and result in people chasing you for money for several years.

Make sure you have adequate insurance on your home and its contents. Consider it part of your home security strategy. Review your policy annually and make sure you have any particularly valuable items (like special collections or jewelry) scheduled on the policy or separately insured – otherwise you might find they’re not covered in the event of a burglary. When it comes to home insurance policies always check the exclusions and when you receive any letters from an insurer advising of changes to the policy read them carefully.

Living in fear is no fun at all but ignoring potential dangers is asking for trouble. Take a common sense to home security and personal safety – put preventative measures in place, exercise due caution and have good insurance!

Sometimes the best home security is implemented when you are the one making the assessment and any corrective action- a do it yourself home security plan.

Here are home security tips to think about that will definitely discourage or flat out stop a potential intruder from entering your house. It is not an all inclusive list but one that if followed will certainly go a long way toward making your home more secure.

1. Take a critical look at your house from the outside. Is your house well lit? Are there hiding places near doors and windows? If you can spot a potential weakness in your home’s “look” you can bet a professional burglar can exploit it. Remember that light is a burglars’ enemy-darkness a friend.

2. What could slow down a burglar from entering your home? Simple home security devices such as locks on doors(deadbolts are best) and windows, bars, grates-items that are visible from the exterior of the house will not only act as a deterrent but slow down an intruder should he decide to try to enter. The more time it takes to break into a home, the more discouraged a burglar will become. Time is the enemy of the burglar.

3. How noisy can you make it if someone gains entry? Noise is also the enemy of the burglar. There are many home security alarms activated by doors or windows opening or by motion. The sound of a barking dog, real or recorded, are very effective and will scare most burglars away.

Lights, noise and time-they are the three biggest enemies of an intruder. If you implement these home security tips to fortify your house you may well avoid a lot of potential break-ins. But there are some other things that will help as well.

–Move valuables away from outside view. Don’t risk tempting someone. Consider putting small valuables in Diversion Safes.

–Start or join a neighborhood watch. Strangers usually stick out in a neighborhood and should be reported immediately to police.

–Make your house look occupied when you are gone. Burglars are much less likely to consider a house they feel is occupied.

–Lock your doors and windows Even when you are gone for a short period of time. Summertime presents a huge temptation to leave doors or windows open. Don’t give in to the temptation. I have seen so many garage doors open only one or two feet to let the heat out-just enough to let a burglar in.

Many police departments as a public service will offer advice on how to make your home more secure. Call for availability in your area.

There are several simple things you can do to make your home less prone to intrusion by a burglar. Start with an assessment on how to make your home well lit, more secure, and in the event of an entry-how to make it very noisy. Light, time, and noise are the enemies of the professional burglar.

In accordance with the USFA (U.S. Fire Administration) thousands of deaths and injuries were caused by house fires. It is a good idea to come up with an escape plan just in case a fire breaks out in your home. This way everyone will know what to do in case a fire breaks loose in your home. You and your family should discuss and design and easy to remember plan that is informative, efficient, and speedy. Remember, fires spread quickly so you and your family should also plan to move just as quick.

Some of the topics that should be brought up when discussing a fire escape should include what every individual responsibilities will be assigned to each family member, what the two most safe escape routes are in your home (every room), as well as where to meet up once everyone is outside and safe from the fire. It would be wise to let every family member know that there will be no time to save anything, also that if possible, try to alert others by screaming loudly “Fire!” or something to let everyone know there is an emergency. Once everyone has been alerted individuals should crawl quickly to a safe exit.

Remember if you live in an apartment or some other type of residential building that houses more than one family there are alternate ways to escape. It would be a good thing to get to know where the fire exits in the building are located, to ensure everyone in the building is safe during a fire. The owner of the building or property manager should let tenants know where these escapes are located upon move in. Knowing these types of things will assist you in coming up with an effective escape plan with your family. Escape plans are not something that can be told once and it is “down packed” immediately. You and your family should practice the escape plan at least once a month to ensure that everyone is refreshed on what to do in case of a fire.

Also include in the escape plan a way to alert the local fire department once outside the burning home. Most of the time a neighbor will contact the fire department; but it is always good to have a backup plan to cover all tracks. You should include a couple of close by neighbors in the plan so they will know that if a fire breaks out they will be one of your safety  resources. Keep in mind though, you should first make sure everyone escapes safely, then alert the fire brigade, do not try to stop and make a phone call during a fire because every second counts, time will be your biggest enemy during fires so it is not wise to use time unnecessarily.

One way to make an informative and easy accessible plan is to draw out a floor design. Include all rooms, doors, as well as windows in your home. Mark all escape routes and smoke alarms in the residence with vibrant colors to make certain that the family knows how, and where to escape if the fire does break out. Keep in mind that a fire may break out when just the kids are home, so it is good to discuss what they should do in case this happens. Leave telephone numbers for emergency contacts, give them detailed but understandable directions on exactly what to do, also make sure if you know that only the children will be home that there is always someone you trust there to keep a check on them just in case there is an emergency. Educating and preparing you and your family on fire safety or any other type of safety during an emergency, will lower your chances of any deaths or injuries during that fire. It may also help reduce the amount of fires that occur in your home.