Home Security

With home burglary and home invasions making the news almost every day, homeowners are justifiably concerned about their own safety and security. There is a physical loss of an average of $1700 from each home burglary. There is another average of $1700 worth of damage done to the home. That pales in comparison to the psychological damage done to the homeowner and his family. It is a feeling of violation that lasts for years.

And yet it seems so simple to take some proactive steps to prevent home burglary. For example, nearly 90% of all home burglaries occur through doors and windows that are not locked. So doesn’t it make sense to start by locking them? Home security for many can be very simple. But homeowners are sometimes lazy and don’t take any preventative measures.

Just making your home less attractive to a burglar from the outside can go a long ways towards improving your home security and protecting it against home burglary. Try removing shrubs along lower-level doors and windows to eliminate hiding places. Put a sign in your front yard warning of a vicious guard dog. You don’t even need a dog-just the sign will do.

If a burglar does get into your house, have you taken any steps to protect your valuables? It is just a proven fact that a burglar will spend, on average, 6 minutes or less inside a house. Even a nimble burglar cannot check every possible place to find valuables. So where is the best place to hide valuables and protect them?

Hiding them in “plain sight” is the best way. They go for the obvious first; drawers and closets but would they think of looking in a mantle clock or on a bookshelf for a book safe? The things burglars look for first are the things that they can fence the fastest; valuables such as jewelry, guns and of course cash.

A home offers many places to hide valuables. But safes such as gun safes, hidden safes and book safes are actually some of the most secure places to hide valuables.

The large Book Safe is a great example. It has a 3″ x 8″ x 9″ interior compartment that is big enough to hold securities, jewelry, cash, or even a small handgun or anything else of value. The three digit combination lock ensures further security. This book safe will fit right into any collection of books or leave it lying right on your living room table in plain sight.

Book safes, gun safes and other hidden safes are the best places to hide valuables in your home.



By: Dave Artman

About the Author:

It is no secret that the best way to learn something is to learn from the best. It doesn’t matter what you’re learning-a new skill, a new language, a new job-absolutely anything. Always learn that skill from someone who really knows what they’re doing.

In this case we are talking about burglary prevention as part of home security. And who better to learn it from than a professional burglar. Recently, a man who was believed to have done as many as 70 home burglaries made a list of tips to prevent burglary for police to pass on to home owners. He was caught in the United Kingdom but the principles are the same here.

Here are some statistics that might get your attention. One out of every six homes is burglarized. A burglary happens every 15 seconds. The value of goods stolen from a home in the average home burglary is over $1700 with an average of another $1700 in damage done to the home during the burglary.

So it’s much better to prevent home burglary in the first place. The old idea of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure really holds true for home burglary.

Here are some of the burglary prevention tips that he gave so homeowners could avoid being burglarized.

First, he never used force to gain entry into a house. And why should he? Here in the United States close to 90% of all burglaries happen through unlocked doors or windows. So lock your doors and windows, even if you are home.

Second, he suggested getting a dog or at least a sign warning of a dog. He told police that burglars will not risk entry into a house if they hear a barking dog. Maybe that’s where the Barking Dog Alarm could come in handy.

Third, he suggested getting an alarm. This professional burglar said he would never enter a home that’s got an alarm.

Fourth he said to leave the lights on when away from the house. He told police that he always avoided well-lit homes. He suggested to homeowners that motion activated spotlights or motion activated lights were a great idea.

Next, he told police that a security camera, even a fake one, was enough to make burglars choose another house.

As a final tip, he indicated that he always avoided walkways, driveways, patios that were pebbled because walking across them was always very noisy and gave him away.

These are outstanding home security tips from someone who really knows what he is talking about. If you implemented these home security measures, you could prevent burglaries and make your home and your family much safer. Burglary prevention tips from a pro really help.



By: Dave Artman

About the Author:

Home security is a rapidly growing industry. It’s not that complicated to figure out why it’s growing so rapidly. Even with the average value of a home dropping significantly in the last few years it is still over $200,000, which makes it the most valuable asset that anybody has. So many people have come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe, they should protect their home from burglary and home invasion.

All you have to do is look at the police statistics that will tell you one out of six homes, on average, will be burglarized. Home burglary happens every 15 seconds. It is one of the few crimes in the United States that is on the increase when most are declining.

There are two reasons I think for the increase. First the economy is so bad with so many people out of work that many desperate people are looking for an easy solution and home burglary can provide that. The risks are low of getting caught. And if you are caught, at worst you get a slap on the wrist.

The other reason is that homeowners really make it very easy to do. Sixty percent of all home burglaries happen through unlocked doors and windows. So all the burglar has to do is just walk right in.

Here are some home security tips to help you keep your home safe and secure and protect your family. Follow these tips for home security and you will be less likely to be a target for home burglary.

1. Lock all doors and windows even when you’re at home.

2. Remove trees and shrubs around lower-level doors and windows eliminating potential hiding places.

3. Start or join a “neighborhood watch” program. It is extremely effective and it’s free.

4. Keep your garage door closed with your personal possessions and your car inside not out in the driveway.

5. Use your peephole. If you don’t have one get one.

6. Consider getting a sign for your front yard warning of a vicious guard dog or a security company. It’s amazing that burglars see this kind of stuff and stay away.

7. Spend some money on a Security Camera with remote. You can get a good one for less than $150.00. Isn’t your home worth $150.00? Security cameras send a message to burglars to stay away or get caught.

8. The sound of a barking dog is one of the most highly effective deterrents to home burglary. If you don’t have a dog, you can get an alarm that sounds like a barking dog.

9. Time, lights and noise are the three biggest enemies of the burglar. Keep your home well lit. Make it difficult for him to get in so it takes up his time. If he does get in use a window or door alarm to create some noise. These guys don’t want to get caught.

10. Keep some self-defense products in the house in case you are the victim of a home invasion.

Follow these tips for home security and you will be less likely to be a target for home burglary.



By: Dave Artman

About the Author:

Home burglaries and home invasions present a constant and ever-growing threat to homeowners. That’s why companies that specialize in home security and home security products are some of the fastest-growing in the country. Even when the economy is down and people are struggling, it is prudent for homeowners to take steps to protect their home, their possessions in the home and their families.

Of all the products that deal with home security, hidden cameras are often overlooked. Many people think that they are too expensive; that they can’t afford them. Is a $300.00 investment in a hidden camera too much when your home is, on average, worth $200,000 or more? Only you can answer that.

Many hidden cameras and spy cameras that are good for home security cost much less than $300.00. Some of these look like wall clocks, digital alarm clocks and wall plates. There is even one that looks like a clothes hook or even a thermometer. Almost all of these are significantly less than $300.00. But they are battery operated which, for some people, is a drawback because the recording life is limited. So if you have an ongoing long-term requirement, a battery operated hidden spy camera or hidden camera may not be best for you.

Almost all of the hidden cameras have motion detection as one of the main features. This cuts down on recording time and saves you time as well so you don’t have to sit through hours of video to see what you’re looking for. It only records when there’s activity in front of the camera.

Wall clock hidden cameras are among the most popular. There are several styles to choose from but they all record images onto an SD card. To view the images that are recorded, remove the SD card from the clock and insert it into your computer’s SD card reader. The viewing angle is big enough to watch a whole room. They all have motion detection as one of their features.

One of the most popular is the Projection Display Clock spy camera. It is a fully functioning AM/FM clock radio with a LED projection display. It has motion detection as one of its features with multiple blocks and adjustable sensitivity. It can handle up to a 32 GB SD card.

Because the camera and the DVR are hidden inside a common object like a clock radio, it can fit into almost any setting in a home, office or even a business which is why it is the best hidden spy camera.



By: Dave Artman

About the Author:

How much do you know about having a home security system? Would installing a security system in your home actually benefit you? Are there other advantages, besides safety, to having a home security system? The following five-question quiz will give you the answers to those questions and help you decide if a home security system is right for you. After answering the questions, scroll to the bottom of the page for the correct answers and more information.

1. What percentage of American households have a security system?

(a) 65%
(b) 10%
(c) 25%
(d) 45%

2. True or False: If there is any metal construction in a home, a wireless system won’t work.

(a) True
(b) False

3. Approximately how many American homes are burglarized each day?

(a) 6,000
(b) 500
(c) 3,000
(d) 15,000

4. The majority of home burglaries occur between the hours of:

(a) 9:00 pm and 5:00 am
(b) 9:00 am and 3:00 pm
(c) 5:00 am and 12:00 pm
(d) 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm

5. True or False: Most insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners who have a security alarm.

(a) True
(b) False

1.
(c) 25% of American homes have a home security system; only one quarter of American homes are protected by a home security system, despite a recent survey showing the majority of homeowners believe that having a system is effective in deterring burglaries.

2.
(b) False. It’s true that radio waves cannot pass through metal, but a home would have to have steel walls, steel-plated floors, a sheet metal roof, iron support beams, and an aluminum staircase to prevent a wireless security system from working.

3.
(a) Approximately 6,000 American homes are burglarized each day. Every two and a half minutes a burglary takes place in the United States. The installation of a home security system is an effective precaution against being burglarized, because a home without a security system is 2.2 times more likely to be burglarized than a home protected by a home security system.

4.
(b) The majority of home burglaries occur between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. During the day, burglars can easily work unnoticed, since most adults are at work and children are at school, leaving neighborhoods practically deserted.

5.
(a) True. Installing a security system is a great way to save as much as 10% from your insurance company, and many offer even greater discounts when your home security system is monitored by a professional monitoring company.

A residence without a home security system is approximately three times more likely to be broken into than one without. Homeowners who have security systems loose an average of $400 less in valuables in the event of a robbery. These facts prove that the installation of a security system dissuades intruders and protects your home. Home systems can include everything you could possibly need. Perimeter sensors on outside doors and windows, Timers for interior and exterior lights, Sirens, strobe lights and other alert mechanisms, Home security cameras for inside or outside use, Motion detectors in key inside areas, A control unit to interpret and respond to signals from the above and A connection to a central monitoring station which notifies the police of a breach in your home security. Solidify your overall sense of safety with a home security system.

By: Ralph Winn

About the Author:

So, you plan on purchasing a security system? Do you believe you know enough security system information to make a good choice? Do you think you know the whos, whats, whens, wheres, and whys of security systems? Take the following quiz, which contains some useful, interesting, and trivial system information, and check your knowledge of the subject. Read and answer the questions, then scroll down for the security information answers.

1. Who invented the first home video security system?

Marie V. Brown and Albert Brown applied for a patent on the first closed-circuit security system for home use in 1966. They received the patent on December 2, 1969. The two used their combined system information to devise a system that implemented a motorized security camera that slid up and down looking through a set of four peep holes drilled through the door. The system also included an electric switch that gave the home’s occupant the option of unlocking the door remotely.

2. What is the least expensive way to install a security system in your home?

Opting for do-it-yourself installation grants you the benefits of a home security system at a much lower cost than professional installation. Reading and posting questions on do it yourself security forums gives you the security system information needed to not only make an educated decision when purchasing a system but also offers installation instructions and first-hand accounts of other people installing their own systems.

3. When do most home burglaries occur in the United States?

The majority of home burglaries occur during the holiday season. Because of our hectic schedules during the holidays, we often find ourselves becoming lax on home security issues. And burglars know that we often receive expensive items, such as electronics, as holiday gifts. The following holiday-time security system information allows you to enjoy the holidays while staying safe: always turn on your security system when not at home, never give your passcode to delivery people or temporary housekeepers and teach trusted house guests how to use your security system.

4. Where is the best place to keep your security system information, guides, and copy of your passcode?

A home safe offers the best protection for your system information. A fireproof or home security safe protects your home security information from being lost, stolen, or destroyed in a fire.

5. Why have security systems become less expensive in the last few years?

Recent advances in technology, such as the Internet and wireless systems, led to the price decline of home security systems. Before, installing an alarm necessitated hiring a professional. Now, home owners can properly install wireless security system in minutes, and if they come across a problem, the numerous sources on the Internet offer the security system information they need.

By: Ralph Winn

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