Educate Yourself about Home Security

People like to think they are safe in their homes. This need to believe can leave homes unprotected against burglars. While home security is something that people don’t like to think about, it is something that people should know about. There are some basics of home security that will help to keep you, and your family safe. Education is the first step in home security.

Is your home a target for burglars? There are areas of home security that people could stand to educate themselves on. The first thing people have to do to keep their homes secure is to recognize the fact that it’s not just high crime areas that are prone to crime. Crimes can occur in the even the most prestigious neighborhoods.

The facts of crime statistics will shock you. Did you know that most homes that are robbed are entered through the front door? The door doesn’t have to be open, or even unlocked, the door frame, and locks might not be up to standard. This allows for easy access to your home. Where else do burglars enter the home?

Windows are another main point of entry. Most people don’t bother to lock their windows, and never even consider closing windows beyond the first floor. Just because a window isn’t on the ground doesn’t mean someone can’t enter through it. Placing an alarm on your windows could deny a burglar access to your home this way.

There are homes that do not even have latches that work correctly on the windows. A burglar bar for the window can prevent access even without a working lock on the window. These bars don’t have to be expensive either.

Window bars are placed into the frame of the window, and help prevent the window from moving in the direction it opens. The glass can still be broken fairly easily so an alarm on the window will offer extra protection against a break in. Alarms on windows detect movement as well as breaking glass which will set off not only a siren, but the rest of the home security system as well.

When the siren goes off burglars usually leave because of the noise. The fact that the rest of the homes security system has been activated means that someone is on the way to your home to check on you.

Burglars will usually avoid homes that display logos from home security companies. A consultation with a home security company will show home owners the areas around their home that invite burglars in. This consultation will also give homeowners suggestions to make their home safer.

Home security consultations will allow the homeowner to go over their options and find one that fits into their budget. The safety of your home is important, so you should do everything that you can to protect it. Checking the access points to your home for proper locking mechanisms, installing removable burglar bars, and investing in even an inexpensive alarm system can go a long way to protecting yourself against burglars.

By: Kieran Adams

Home Security When You’re Away

That annual vacation is often what gets you through the rest of the year. Anticipating a week at the beach, ski slopes or just relaxing away from all of your daily cares is sometimes the only thing you have to provide comfort and solace. However, while you are away, enjoying yourself and soaking up the rays, your home is at an increased risk of burglary. It’s a proven fact that thieves prefer to enter a home when it is unoccupied. What better time to do this than when the owner is on vacation? Of course, the addition of a home security system can help provide you with peace of mind, but there are many other steps you can take.

What can you do to help increase the security of your home and your belongings while you’re away? First, thing like a burglar! What does a potential thief look for first in a home being targeted? The answer – signs of occupancy. If the burglar sees signs of occupancy, they will usually bypass the home in favor of easier prey. Only the stupidest or most desperate thieves will break into a home while it is occupied (by those not sleeping, at least). This therefore begs the question, how do you make it seem as though your home is occupied while you’re not home?

You might be surprised at just how simple it can be to give your home the appearance of life within. Consult your neighbors (the trusted ones). You may find that they are willing to come over once each day and turn on lights (or turn off lights), as well as turning on the TV, stereo or other appliances. Random lights (don’t leave the same lights burning the entire time!) give your home the appearance that someone is actually within, using the lights. In addition, the sounds of the TV or the stereo add dimension to this illusion. If you do not have a trusted neighbor to do this for you, consult a family member or a close friend.

Another way to give your home the appearance of someone being home the entire time is to ensure that your mailbox remains empty and that no newspapers pile up in the driveway. An overflowing mailbox and a driveway cluttered with days of uncollected newspapers are sure signs to thieves that you are not home and they can enter without fear of being discovered. Have your neighbor, friend or family member pickup your mail and newspapers when they come over each day to change the lights and running appliances.

Of course, there are other ways to give your home the appearance of life. You can purchase loop audio CDs that have the sounds of conversations, the clink of glassware and plates, the sounds of laughter and other general homey sounds on them. These can be played through your computer system or through your stereo and can help ensure that any would-be thieves are given second thoughts about entering.

By: Carly Kosiele

Flood Lights as a Security Tool

It’s a well accepted fact that most robberies and crimes tend to happen during the night. Criminals quite like operating under the veil of darkness as they are easier to detect and therefore foil. A homeowner should always keep this in mind and try to ensure that gardens and house fronts are well lit. Street lighting can suffice in most circumstances, but for areas that don’t have enough light, one should consider purchasing and installing a flood light.

Different varieties of flood light exist, but the ones commonly used on domestic premises tend to be 250 or 500 watt tungsten. It’s common for a flood light to include a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor) for the light to come on when movement is detected. Flood lights should be mounted to make sure that they shed light into areas where a robber may hide and remain undetected in normal circumstance. It is important to pay heed and attention to where a spot light may be mounted. For example, the light should never shine into neighboring homes or onto neighboring property and this may be perceived as breaching their privacy. Also, a flood light should always be pointing downwards as this max most use of the light it generates. The ideal angle for a flood light is an angle of 22 degrees. In this position it illuminates walls without blinding an observer who may not be able to witness the intrusion otherwise.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when using a flood light. If used incorrectly they will not provide any security, but instead pose a risk to your property and your visitors. Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure the flood light is not in a position where it can distract drivers. They can be a source of accidents by temporarily blinding someone in charge of a car.
2. If a floodlight is incorrectly installed it can actually help a robber by blinding onlookers or providing shadows for criminals to hide in.
3. PIR sensors can be triggered by cats, dogs or things moving in the wind. This can cause false alarms and desensitize your neighbors to the flood light coming on.
4. A 500W flood light can be quite expensive to run (and has a large impact on the environment). Sometimes, just an ordinary 60W light bulb is enough for your needs.

Keep these points in mind when purchasing and installing a flood light as the only thing worse than no security is a false sense of security.

By: catwomanseven

Emergency Kit 101 For 2009

Many people dismiss the time honored-tradition of making personal resolutions this time of year. That tradition has gone along the wayside for most the idea of adding pressure to our hectic lives seems daunting in this day and age. While I am not one to encourage people to make personal resolutions around New Years, I am one who likes to see people make practical changes to the way they act and live in order to improve safety and give a little peace of mind.

One of the easiest things families can commit to doing this year is to create an emergency kit for their home. Unforeseen disaster and complications can hit us at any time. Preparation for these things can increase safety and give you peace-of-mind.

What You Need to Know
I break emergency kits into two types: Home and Travel. A kit stored at home will usually contain more supplies because of the added room and the potential to be stuck in the home for long spans of time during a disaster. However, during many disasters, evacuation is necessary. In these cases an emergency kit that can be easily picked up and taken with you is needed, something like a large waterproof backpack or easy to carry duffel bag work well here.

Packing Your Emergency Kit
There are a lot of items that should be included in a good emergency kit. Below is the list of the most common items recommended for kit, categorized by essential, important, and nice-to-have. Each family will need to evaluate the list and put together the items they believe will be the most crucial for them in a time of crisis.

Essential Kit Items
LED flashlight: These reliable torches are a must. The new technology is far superior to battery-draining incandescent bulbs and provides a brighter, more visible light than any other light source available. Remember to include two LED torches and extra batteries.

First-Aid kit: Stock a complete kit with basic medical items like bandages, disinfectant, basic pharmaceuticals, etc. If your family members require daily medication, make sure to store extras in the kit as well.

Multi-tool or pocketknife: A sturdy multi-tool provides you with basic tools in an easy to carry package. A good multi-tool will have screwdrivers and knife blades in various sizes for a number of different applications.

Non-perishable food: Include food that doesnt need to be cooked in your kit supplies. Pack enough for at least a 72-hour (3-day) period. Nuts, granola bars, dried foods, and peanut butter are all excellent choices. Canned food has a good shelf-life too. Just be sure to include a can opener (or make sure your multi-tool has one)!

Bottled water: Pack one gallon of water per person per day. This not only serves as your drinking water (which your body desperately needs) but will provide enough to use for sanitation purposes.

Warm blankets: For your home, any warm, dry blankets will suffice, preferably made of wool. Space blankets for your travel pack will conserve space and lighten the load.

Waterproof matches/lighter: It is important to have fire-starting tools in the event that extra warmth is needed.

Important Kit Items
AM/FM radio: Important information is often broadcast across radio waves in the event of an emergency. Keep extra batteries in your kit for the radio if you choose to include one in your kit.

Extra clothing: If inclement weather is involved, the value of warm, dry clothes increases dramatically. Put extra clothes in a waterproof bag.

Dust mask: Natural disasters can produce a big mess, stirring up dust and other harmful particles.

Bleach: This common household cleaner serves a number of purposes, the most important being purifying drinking water. Sixteen drops per gallon will provide you safe, drinkable water.

Cash (and change): ATMs and credit card machines dont work when the power is out. Keep extra cash in a safe place within your kit in case you need to buy supplies during an emergency.

Whistle: Often overlooked, do not underestimate the importance of a good whistle. These little wonders are simple to use, safe to carry, and easy for emergency personnel to hear.

Nice-To-Have Kit Items
Moist Towelettes: For cleaning and sanitation
Plastic garbage bags: For cleaning and sanitation
Tarps / Plastic Sheeting: Window and Wall Repair
Feminine Hygiene Products
Baby Diapers / Formula
Extra Glasses, contacts, etc.
Duct Tape

~Richard McNeal, 2009

Amazing Ideas On How To Improve Your Home Security On A Budget

You don’t have to spend a fortune installing expensive security alarm systems as there are a few cheaper options that can be done to improve your home security. By not addressing your security in the home you are at risk of an intruder break-in and losing all that you have worked so hard to achieve. Don’t leave it to chance and take the gamble that it wont happen to you and your family. So many people wait until they are broken into before they look at ways to improve their home security. Take home security seriously and don’t leave your house wide open for a burglar to gain access and steal your belongings.

Give the illusion that someone is at home. This can be done with you interior lighting using timers to switch the lights on and off at a scheduled interval. There are different types of timer switch – some which plug straight into your wall mains socket in which your lighting/lamp will then plug into and others which plug directly into your ceiling lighting. Your room light bulb then plugs into the timer device. This is a very inexpensive first step to improving your home security.

Next, look at your windows and doors. Have a good look at all of them and ask yourself how easy it would be for you to get through them if you had lost your door key? If you can easily devise a method of penetrating your doors or windows with the minimum of effort then so could a burglar. They are experts and probably know more ways than you of breaking into your house. Firstly, if you have wooden doors or windows that are rotting or are badly in need of repair then you need to replace them. Consider installing additional locks on your windows which can be applied when closed and catches that won’t allow them to be opened more than a few inches. Ideally deadbolt door locks should be fitted to all of your exterior doors to make it extremely difficult for the intruder to break in. Also, don’t forget to close all windows and doors when going out. It’s surprising how many people forget to do this and leave an open invitation to the burglar.

Another inexpensive installation that can be done to improve your home security is to fit exterior security lighting to your yard or garden. A burglar wants to break into a property without being seen. They typically go for unlit exteriors so installing a outside security lamp will defiantly put them off entering onto your land. Purchase a security light with PIR motion detection capability – these are not expensive and will switch the lamp on if movement is detected in the range of the sensor. They also act as a handy welcome home light when you return back to your property at night.

Make sure sheds and outbuildings are securely locked. Again, if you could break into them so could a burglar. Sheds contain some of the most useful items to aid a burglar breaking into a house. You will no doubt have various tools, garden implements, ladders etc… which are all useful for the burglar. Burglar’s travel light so they are on the look out for implements within your property to help them break in.

Take a look at your garden and if there are any overgrown trees, shrubs or bushes that would aid a burglar gaining access to your property then cut them right back. Plant prickly, thorny bushes under windows so to put the intruder off getting close to your windows. Put gravel around your property so you can hear if anyone is walking around your home.

By: andyj00