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Below, you'll find more
information on leading home security articles and products.
Securing Your Home
Since almost 30 percent of burglaries are no-force entries, locking your doors and windows is a great first place to start. But it also means that the other 70 percent of burglaries that year were forced. When burglar-proofing your home, you should take a three-fold approach: deter, detect and delay.
Deterring burglars begins with making sure you have good locks and solid entry points. But it also includes things like posting a sign, which tells potential burglars that you have an alarm system. This may be enough of a deterrent to a thief. Creating the impression that someone is always at home is another way to prevent burglaries.
Leave your television or radio on, and install an automatic timer to some of the lights in your house to make it appear as if the house is occupied. As we've seen, most burglars aren't interested in coming in if they think someone's home.
If you leave your curtains open, be careful what's in view. Why make it easy for thieves to case your home for valuables?
Having a dog may also be a deterrent, but be warned that a good professional burglar knows how to distract or neutralize your dog. This can be as simple as feeding your dog treats or luring him or her into a room and shutting the door. Instead, a dog acts much more effectively as a detection device. Detection is one of the best ways to keep burglaries down. A barking dog can alert an entire block that something is awry.
To do this even more effectively, though, most people turn to alarm systems. Alarm systems have a wide range in price, usually depending on the kinds of features. Regardless of your price range, your system should include sensors at entry points, motion detectors within your house, and a very loud outdoor alarm which alerts the neighborhood that someone has entered your home.
While alarm systems won't actually stop a burglar from entering, it will re-frame the crime. With an alarm blaring, the burglary will turn into a smash and grab -- a harried scurry through your home looking for the most easily stolen valuables, followed by a quick exit. While it's a good idea to advertise that you have an alarm system, it may not be the best idea to tell burglars what kind you have. If your system can be shut off with a remote control or key fob, robbers using computer technology may be able to duplicate the signal given by your remote control and shut your alarm off from the street.
Installing motion-sensitive flood lights outdoors will also help to deter burglars working at night. For daytime, make sure that your shrubs are trimmed to allow a good view of your home from the street. Burglars don't like exposure, and trimmed shrubs take that away. You may also want to plant thorny shrubs beneath your windows as a further deterrant.
Delaying criminals is another important aspect of keeping burglars out. The longer it takes to get into your home, the more likely a burglar is to give up and move on. The National Neighborhood Watch Association suggests that a four-minute delay will protect your house in most cases.
Along with locking doors and windows, delaying a burglar includes keeping unusual entry points from being accessible. Keep branches trimmed so that upper floor windows aren't easy to get into. Make sure basement windows are secure, and keep your garage doors locked. Glass block windows in these areas are a good idea if they're within your budget.
If a burglar has few options for entering into your home, and the threat of an alarm sounding when he or she does, it can go a long way to deterring him or her. And don't forget your locks; none of the other precautions amount to much when your doors or windows are unlocked.
Several insurance companies offer premium discounts on homeowners policies when there is a functioning system. These discounts vary from one insurer to another and depend on the types of security system installed. Some insurance companies may offer a 5 percent discount for installing dead-bolt locks and a basic burglar alarm. Many insurance companies offer as much as a 20 percent discount for systems with monitoring services.
The best thing to do is talk with your insurance agent or company and ask about their discounts. It may be worth the peace of mind, and cost of installation to install a system. If your insurance company doesn't offer a discount it may also be a good time to find one that does.
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