Keeping your family, belongings and property safe and secure is your first priority, and with a little planning, you can achieve it and gain peace of mind. An alarm system with monitoring is a good place to start. You can get discounted alarm monitoring for your security system that provides monitoring of your alarms by professionals who will call the police or fire department within seconds when your alarm sounds.
Make Your Home Unattractive to Burglars
Don’t advertise to burglars. If you have a new TV or a great bike, don’t leave the packaging where anyone can see it. Make sure you put it in the garage or backyard away from greedy eyes. It’s also not a good idea to have expensive electronic items in front of a window where anyone can see. It would just take a few seconds to smash the window and grab the items.
Most burglaries happen during the daylight hours when people are at work or school. You can create the illusion that someone is home by having a timer that turns on and off lights and the TV or a radio while you are gone. You can also have your curtains opened and closed by a timer. However, a monitored security system will watch your house all of the time.
Get Police Help
The police can help you before you have a break-in by giving your home a free security evaluation. They will identify areas that are invitations to burglars and show you how to secure them. You can also tell your local police when you are going on vacation or for a business trip, and they will regularly drive or walk by your home.
Before You Go on Vacation
Research shows that residential crime is more during the months of July and August. There are a few simple things you can do to deter burglars:
• Set your lights, drapes and TV on timers
• Tell your local police and your neighbors the date you plan leave and your return date
• Don’t change your voice mail message to say you are on vacation
• Don’t allow mail, newspapers or flyers to pile up in front of your house
• Make sure your lawn is regularly mowed
• If you have a land line, turn down the ringtone, so it is difficult to hear
Even if you have a good alarm monitoring system, it’s still wise to take a few simple precautions to make your house unattractive to burglars.