No matter what part of the country you live in or how rough your neighborhood may or may not be, there are some home security solutions that you can do to help insure the security of your home and family.  Since our goal is to prevent a beak-in from ever occurring in the first place, I want to start outdoors.

Since a burglar has to be able to gain access into your home, I want to give you some simple home security solutions that just about anyone can do and it’s also affordable.  The first thing I want you do is to go outside your home with a pad of paper and a pen so that you can take notes.

Go to the front of your house by the street and take a good hard look at your home.  Put yourself in a burglar’s shoes and see what they see.  Here is what I want you to look for:

• Are there any hiding places near the doors or windows?  Having a good place to hide gives a burglar time to break in without being seen.
• Is there a clear view of your front door from the street?  Even if a burglar doesn’t use the front door to gain access, they may use it to exit the premises.  What are the chances that they will be seen?

Next, I want you to make a note of any plants, trees, or shrubs that should be trimmed or removed in order to remove any possible hiding places for a burglar.  Now walk around the rest of the house looking for any other plants that should be removed.  While you walk around also look for:

• Items that could help a burglar to gain entry – for example tools laying around, ladders left out, a trellis that could be used as a ladder, etc.
• Could you add some thorny plants around your windows, making the environment a sticky situation for any would be burglar?
• Do you have any flood lights with motion sensors so that if someone is walking around your house at night, they get lit up?

These are just a few of the home security solutions that will help you stay secure in your home. Another thing that you may want to consider doing is adding a yard sign and/or window stickers that give the appearance that you have a residential home security system. It’s not as good as actually having a security system but it will make a burglar think twice about your place.

Having a home security system in your dwelling can make a huge difference in how safe and comfortable you feel in your own home. If you live alone, have a family with small children, or live in the city where crime and theft are proven to be higher, you would probably enjoy the sense of protection that a residential alarm system would provide you. The only problem with most comprehensive residential alarm systems is that they required complicated wiring and installation, which usually means drilling some holes in your walls, windows and door jambs. When you are the owner of your home, these things are not even given a second thought because ultimately they will improve the value of your home. However, when you are only renting your domicile, the landlord or building Management Company might prevent you from making these kinds of alterations. If you’re a renter who still believes in having the protection you deserve, it’s time to think about a portable home security system.

If you’ve never heard of a portable home security system before, you should know that there are many different options available on the market today. Which one works best for you and your lifestyle will ultimately depend on your budget, the type of home you live in, and the type of alarm system you are most likely to use on a regular basis. Some of the most basic portable home security systems are very compact in size, run completely off of battery power, and consist of simple, self contained units.

Some different kinds of portable home security systems also come in cellular models, meaning that you can literally bring them anywhere and they will still be able to protect you. If you are a business person that travels a lot, or you’re a student that will be travelling in a foreign country by yourself, a portable home security system can be used to arm your hotel or hostel room. There are even hotel specific varieties that can simply hang off of your hotel room door knob.

Depending on what you are prepared to spend on a portable home security system, you will find models that come with just an alarm system, or models that also come with motion detection. The great thing about many of these portable home security systems is that they are completely wireless, meaning they are even more secure from would-be thieves that think cutting the wires is the way to gain access.

Just a note of caution about using portable home security systems – be sure to check the system on a regular basis to make sure that everything is functioning properly and the battery is still doing its job.  Checking your system at least once a month is a good idea.  You want to be sure that your portable alarm system is working when it’s not needed so that it will alert you to trouble when it is needed.

Ever since the beginning of substitutions for cash money, like paper checks and debit cards, dishonest people have been finding inventive new ways to steal them from hardworking people and use them for their own enjoyment. Slowly but surely, people have realized that the process of using a paper check leaves too much to chance, as many early identity theft stories involved stolen check books and the resulting over drawn accounts. Eventually people began asking for identification when a check was used for a purchase or cashed, but by this point thieves were moving on to bigger and better things as well.

Now there are many different resources available for listening to and reading the identity theft stories of other people. Even if this tragedy has not ever occurred to you, the chances are that it will, on some level, in your lifetime. Now is the time to look over some of these identity theft stories to see if you can learn any preventative measures from the people and circumstances that they describe. Not everyone will have a situation that you can relate to, but many will include details about what people wish they could have done differently, both in their financial habits and in the reporting process.

Many identity theft stories start and end with the debit card. As a unique type of currency that has all but eliminated the need for slow paper checks, the debit card acts in many ways like a credit card. This means that the debit card has the ability to be used in any type of purchase situation in which a credit card would otherwise be accepted, the only difference is the money is withdrawn directly from your checking account instead of being charged to your credit card account.

Debit cards are very handy, except that people use them in many situations that allow the account number to be stolen. If you have ever used your debit card to make an over the phone purchase, you are literally giving the person on the other end of the line full access to your money. Many identity theft stories include details about debit card transactions that show up on a person’s account. While, the money might eventually be replaced by your bank, there are other consequences, like bounced checks and missed payments that will take a while to truly recover from. Protect yourself by only using your debit card in secure transactions.

Today I wanted to give you a great example of what NOT to do when it comes to the outside of your house and your home security.  I went for a run this morning and I passed by this house that just got every one of my security vibes to tingling.  Here is a picture of the house (I took it with my phone so I hope you get a clear picture):

You can tell that there is a house there but you can’t see the front door.  I wrote an article about how to Feel Safe At Home  in which I talked a little about how you can deter a thief by removing the shrubs and plants that hide the entrance to your home.  As you can see from the photo – the entrance to this home is completely hidden from the view of the street.

The reason you want to have a clear view of your front door from the street is because a burglar looks for homes that they can break into without being seen by the neighbors. As you can see from the photo, a burglar could work on getting into the front door of this home all day long and no one would ever know.

There are many ways that a burglar can break in but the front door is always going to be one of their first places they look to get in. A good burglar can simply pick the lock, drill out the lock, or just break the door down. Once inside, they can take as long as they want to find your valuables.

It’s pretty obvious from this photo that the homeowner is at home. At least I would assume that they are at home since the garage door is wide open and when I went by less than an hour before taking this photo the door was down.

This brings me to another point about home security. Anyone could run up to the garage and make off with a quick item or two before being noticed. The garage could be considered the candy store for a burglar. Just think about the types of things that can usually be found in a garage: bicycles, tools, lawn equipment, and of course the car.  I wrote a little something a while back about Garage Security that you may want to read here.

If you are looking for affordable home security, then you should start with the basics. Clean up the yard so that your front door can be seen from the street, eliminating the places that a burglar could hide.  And make sure that you close and lock your doors.  Keeping your garage door open for an extended period of time is NOT a good idea.

Good home security solutions don’t have to be complicated or expensive, in most cases, you just have to pay attention to what you are doing and make a decision about how you could make your home more safe and secure.

It seems like since the boom of the internet and the increasing development of mobile technologies identity theft have taken a regular spot next to burglaries and arson as a part of the nightly news. However, the truth is that identity theft history began long before the internet made everyone’s life wireless and accessible. Even back in the days when everything happened through the mail and on paper, thieves were finding ways to locate and steal the sensitive information that gave them access to your finances and your credit. If you are interested in identity theft history, knowing details about how thieves think and operate might help protect you from falling victim to identity theft.

Long before the internet and lap top computers brought the entire world of information and shopping to your living room, thieves used to root around in dumpsters and trash cans trying to located documents that contained personal sensitive information. People who threw away bank statements, credit card statements, and partially filled out rental applications would be at extreme risk for having their sensitive information stolen by these dumpster diving thieves. After a while, banks, businesses and even individuals got wise to this tactic and started shredding all of their important documents so that thieves could not obtain their financial information in this way. 

Today, many people may know to shred their important information before throwing it away but may not know that throwing away a PC (personal computer) can be another source for identity thieves to do their dirty work.  Make sure you check out this article How to Protect Your Identity When Throwing Out a Computer  to get more information on protecting your identity.

Another common scam in early identity theft history took place over the phone. Thieves who had grown tired of rooting around in trash cans and dumpsters took to the phones in elaborate schemes to get unsuspecting individuals to reveal sensitive details about their finances over the phone. Common phone scams included an identity thief contacting an individual to inform them that they had won a huge cash prize or a free vacation. Without thinking about the fact that they might never have entered any such contest, people would willing provide their social security numbers, address, and other information as a way of identifying themselves as the winner of the prize.

Now, identity theft history is riddled with scams and stories that originate from the internet. With the creation of spyware and other programming viruses that can capture your passwords and account numbers as you enter them for online purchases, thieves have access to even more information and even less chance of being caught. Many prime time television specials have been dedicated to identity theft history and the terrible stories of people whose lives have been destroyed by this terrible practice. Make sure you are taking all the necessary precautions to protect yourself.

Once you know how a thief can steal your identity, you can take the necessary precautions to protect it.  Stay tuned to this website for more information on identity theft what to do to keep it from happening to you.

There are a lot of things that you can do to improve your home’s security and the majority of them don’t require you to deal with a burglar alarm company.  Even though I may recommend having a burglar alarm system, that may not always an option for some.  With that in mind, I want to show you how to improve your residential home security starting with your doors.

The doors to your home are going to be the first place a burglar looks to enter because it will be the easiest way in and out.  It’s important to make sure that ALL of your entry doors (including the back door and garage door) are reinforced.

A home invasion can occur any time of day or night (most burglaries happen during the day when the owners are likely to be at work) and access can be gained in a variety of ways.  You should consider the following when deciding on what kind of door hardware you will install to improve your door security:

• Doors can be kicked in.
• Door locks can be picked.
• Glass near or in the door can be broken and the door unlocked.
• Doors can be left unlocked.

Doors and locks should be your first line of defense in residential home security.  You want to make sure that your door security is affordable but at the same time you don’t want to scrimp when it comes to selecting your door locks and any other home security devices that you may use.

Here are a few things that you can do to increase your doors security:

• Install a good quality door locks on all doors going into the house.  Don’t forget about the door that leads from the garage into the home.  And make sure that you train yourself to lock them.  It doesn’t do much good to have a lock on a door if you aren’t going to use it.
• If you have glass in or near an exterior door, treat it with a security film.  Using some kind of safety film will make it more difficult for a burglar to break the glass and simply reach in to unlock the door.
• Replace the door security strike plate with one made of heavy gauge metal and use extra long screws.  A standard door strike plate that comes with every door lock do not provide much security, especially when you use the two short screws that come with it.
• Don’t leave a spare door key under the front doormat or anywhere near your front door.  Burglars know all the standard hiding places.  If you have to have a spare key outside, make sure to leave it a good distance from your door.
• If you have a sliding glass door, use a pin or a bar to prevent it from being forced open.  Make sure that the door that slides is mounted on the inside.  If it’s mounted on the outside, a burglar only has to lift it off the track and remove it to gain entry.

Improving your home security doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune on a fancy burglar alarm system.  You can always use a different approach for your home security solutions.  Make sure that your doors are reinforced with as much security as you can afford.  Many of these door security tips can be done yourself if you are handy with the tools.  Burglars will always look for the easiest way in.  Do what you can to make your home as secure as possible so that a burglar will think twice about YOUR home.

Many people dream of having their own home, surrounded by a cute little yard and neatly painted white picket fence. Homeownership is an extremely satisfying accomplishment that signifies you are putting down roots and investing in your own future. What many new homeowners don’t consider is that not everyone respects the fact that you’ve worked hard and long to gain a home of your own. Thieves and vandals see a newly inhabited home as an opportunity to profit off of the possessions and keepsakes that mean so much to you. If you’re interested in making your home a safe haven for your family, you must consider adding a residential home security system.

If you spend a long time choosing and planning which neighborhood would be the right one to move your family to, you probably already know that for the most part, your street is relatively safe. Perhaps you’ve already met your neighbors, and they seem very nice and welcoming. Perhaps they’ve even told you that they feel so safe in their neighborhood that they leave their door unlocked when they leave the house. This kind of safe reputation is wonderful, but are you really willing to risk the safety of your kids and possessions up to the advice of a neighbor? Residential home security will be there to protect you when you are unprepared for an intruder.

Did you know that government statistics show that of all attempted burglaries in this country, over sixty percent are stopped successfully because the home had a residential home security system? Burglars know that dealing with a residential home security system makes the job too dangerous, and they’re likely to move on to the next house with less protection; like your neighbors with the unlocked doors. Make sure you protect your precious assets by making sure your home is protected.

Another reason that it’s smart to buy a house with a residential home security system or to consider installing one yourselves, is that your homeowner’s insurance company will very likely give you a discount on your premium if you have fitted your home with an intruder alert system and fire alert system. The insurance companies know that homes fitted with a residential security system are far less likely to be the source of pricey claims. With the money you save on reduced insurance premiums, you’ll be able to pay off your security system with no problem and have the extra protection that you want and may one day need.

Check with your homeowner’s insurance company to see if they give discounts to owners with a residential security system installed in their homes.  If your insurance company doesn’t give this sort of discount, you may want to do a little shopping around when your existing policy expires and find a company that does give a discount.

Recent years have shown a drastic increase in the amount of products that are available for ensuring personal home security. Depending on what kind of a dwelling you live in, or the amount of money you have to spend on home modifications, you might not be able to invest in a complete residential home security system. However, if you live alone, have children that must be home by themselves for a period of time every day, or are older and just not able to get around the way you used to, it might be a good idea to look into some of the less expensive personal home security options that are available on the market today.

Personal Home Security – Is It The Answer?

Although some of the personal home security products available today are not as sophisticated as complete residential home security systems, they can still make a big improvement in how prepared you are to protect yourself from an intruder, and will give you more peace of mind than if you simply locked your door at night.

DIY Personal Home Security Solutions

Many of the best personal home security products are relatively inexpensive, and can be purchased at any local home improvement store. Instead of requiring a trained professional to complete the wiring and installation, many personal home security products are easy to install yourself.

One of the most convenient home security products is the magnetic door alarm. Although it is called the magnetic door alarm, these easy to use devices can be placed on just about any type of opening that you are interested in protecting, like a fence or window. These devices usually only cost a couple of dollars and can be installed without the use of any tools. You simply place one side of the magnetic component on the door jamb or window sill, and the corresponding side goes on the door or window itself. Any time the magnetic seal between the two is broken, a small alarm will sound.

Home Security Outside

Another personal home security product that can be especially comforting for people living alone is the motion activated light sensor. These are special lights that can be installed on your porch, over your garage, or in your back yard that will be programmed to turn on any time something moves in their path. These lights are not very expensive, and some can be installed in the light fixtures that you have now. These lights are also helpful for saving money on energy costs, as they only turn on when they are needed.

These days, everyone is concerned about protecting the people and possessions that are important to them. No matter what kind of dwelling you live in, it’s a sure bet that your family and the things that you enjoy together are very near and dear to your heart. The last thing you want is for thief to be able to gain entry to your home when you’re not there to protect it.

In an even worse situation, what would you think if a stranger was able to get into your house while you and your family are there? Burglaries are very dangerous and unexpected situations that happen to an American family every couple of minutes. Protect yourself by taking the time to read some home security reviews and choosing the security system that will be best for you.

The type of home that you live in can play a big part in which home security reviews you read, and ultimately, which home security system will be right for protecting your living space. If you are just starting to read over some home security reviews, whether online or in an industry specific catalog or book, be sure to pay special attention to security systems that specify the size or type of domicile that they’re best for protecting. Also look to see if there are home security reviews that make a note of the recommended cost for a security system on your type of dwelling.

If you live in a small to moderately sized condominium that you own, it will be wise to seek out home security reviews that focus on wireless, or plug and play home security systems. A wireless security system comes with a wireless receiver, panel and key pad that are all part of a single unit. This means that the only hard wiring that will have to be performed is a link from the grounded phone line to the unit itself. All of the other pieces, such as motion sensors and door contact spots will be wireless, making them easy to mount and move if necessary.

If you live in a smaller apartment that you are leasing and do not own, you should seek out home security reviews that feature systems that can be leased or rented for a certain period of time. Make sure you look for a contract that works with the length of time you will stay living in the same apartment. You’ll also want to investigate wireless security systems so you don’t have to drill a lot of holes.

If you live in a single family home that you own, you will want to check home security reviews that feature wired security systems.  Wired systems can still be considered affordable security systems and will add value to your home when it comes time to sell.

Everyone is interested in protecting the people and things that they love, but not everyone has the money or the ability to have a complete, professional residential home security system installed. Traditional electronic home security systems can cost thousands of dollars, and can be complicated to install if your home is old or it is difficult to access electrical wiring systems.

Homeowners might not care about destroying some sheet rock to access the wiring of their home, but what about those who rent their dwellings? Many of these people feel like they can’t add security features to their home because they don’t own it. The truth is that there are many options for those who wish to fortify their home, but can’t install a traditional home security system for whatever reason. Home security kits are available at almost any home improvement store, and are fairly inexpensive.

If you are considering the use of home security kits to make your home a safer place to relax, you should know that there are a wide variety of kit types available. The simplest and most inexpensive home security kits are lock security kits, which are usually made up of chains, flesh bolts, dead bolts, and specially designed window locks. These home security kits are meant to reinforce or replace the locking mechanisms that you already have on your doors and window, which are the most common places for burglars to enter the home.

If you are interested in the more sophisticated home security kits, then you will probably want to research the kits that can include motion sensing technology, surveillance camera equipment, and even key pad activation systems. These are usually a little more complicated, though a typical handy person should be able to install them with no problem and a minimum of tools. These types of kits are perfect for larger homes or if you are frequently away from your home.

If you think that home security kits might be just what you’re looking for in terms of cost and operating features, then the best place to start pricing units is at your local home improvement store. These stores are most likely to carry a variety of home security kits from national manufacturers like GE, Sony, SkyLink and First Alert Security. These kits will typically begin at prices of around sixty dollars and progress up from there. Be sure to ask a salesperson for their professional opinion about which system will be best for you.