The Goal Of Home Security Is To Deter Burglars

29 July, 2010

It stands to reason that the purpose of a home security burglar alarm system is to deter burglars, but oddly enough it's an often overlooked element when talking about burglar alarms and home security. What's most talked about when the issue of home security and burglar alarm systems arise is preventing burglars from entering your house because of good locks and security alarms on doors and windows. It's true that it’s critically important that burglars not be able to get inside your house, and it's true that good locks used with electronic door and window sensors can prevent this from happening. However, it can be a little disconcerting as a homeowner to know that a burglar attempted to get inside your house, when what you really want is for your house to not even be a target.

When you really consider the top attribute you want in an ADT alarm system, it's preventing a burglar from even stepping onto your property, because here's a fact that cannot be denied: if no burglars are ever thinking about robbing your house, then your house will never get robbed. The whole idea is to let burglars know that your house is the wrong house, that your house will lead them to jail, and that if they really do need to burglarize a house it's going to have to be a different house because yours is simply too well protected, and too inhospitable for them to even consider.

The proper use of the window decals and yard sign that come with a monitored ADT home security system is a great way to let wannabe burglars know that your house is professionally protected by people who are smarter they are, and who will have local police response units on their way should they choose to test your home security system. When a burglar sees those decals and signs, they know instantly that there are easy targets, and even if they felt like they could maybe, possibly get past the security system, the risk is far greater than the reward.

When you choose a ADT monitoring for your home alarm system, you're investing in a burglar-deterrence system, which will keep burglars as far away from your house as possible.

Home Security Never Takes A Vacation

29 July, 2010

My family and I recently went on a week-long vacation. One of our primary considerations before leaving was to make certain we'd considered all of the various home security measures that had to be taken care of before we could leave our house unattended for any length of time. Which made me think of these home safety tips.

When going on vacation during the summer, it’s always a good idea to consider landscaping and yard care. We keep our yard neatly trimmed all summer, which means mowing the lawn once per week. Since we were only going to be gone for a week I didn't need to make arrangements to have a neighbor or family member handle this for us. I would just mow the lawn the day before leaving, which would give me a lawn ready to be mowed when we returned in a week, but not so long as to give a professional burglar the idea that someone might not be at home.

An unkempt lawn can be a big clue to a burglar that no one is home, and hasn't been home for a while, particularly if your lawn is normally well maintained. Make arrangements for your yard before leaving on vacation to give the appearance that all is well and like it should be on the home front.

I also knew I had to make arrangements for our newspaper and mail deliveries. When your porch is littered with several days worth of newspapers, and your mailbox is overstuffed with letter, bills, and the sort, it's a clear indicator that no one is home. We decided it was easy enough to simply halt the delivery of these two items, so we made arrangements with our local mail carrier by filling out the proper form, and with a quick call to our local newspaper to stop deliveries for a week. A neighbor or family member can also come by each day to collect both, so regardless which you choose, make certain that arrangements have been made prior to heading out of town. Be certain to give your local post office at least a two week notice.

It might seem like a lot to take care of prior to going on vacation, but it seriously only takes a few minutes of your time to make these type of arrangements, or in the case of your yard to do it yourself the day or the day before you leave on vacation. Smart burglars know exactly what to look for, and far too many families come home, literally, to an empty house.

Be certain to arm your ADT monitored home security system before leaving town. The 24/7 monitoring will protect your home when you're not there, and should anything ever happen you'll be notified immediately. Don't leave anything to change. Take care of the small home security details and send burglars looking for an easier target.

Small Things Count With Home Security

26 July, 2010

Truly effective home security is more than simply having a monitored security system installed. It is the sum of a lot of smaller security measures that become a very effecting web of home security, each part playing off—and relying on—the others. This is how homeowners who want to strengthen their home security can accomplish so much without getting overwhelmed by the perceived enormity of the project. Many of these tasks are inexpensive, and some are things you do on a regular basis. Once you know how they play into your overall home security plan, you'll start to see little tasks and chores you can work on all the time.

Did you know that one of the most effective ways of preventing your windows from being opened from the outside is to lay a rod or dowel in the window track? Without actually breaking the window, this method of locking the windows around your house is virtually burglar proof. With a thick rod or dowel, the same method can be used on sliding glass doors. This home security measure can be as cheap as just a couple of dollars, and the return on investment in terms of home security are enormous.

Upgrade all of the exterior locks around your home. No exterior door should ever be equipped with anything less than a case-hardened steel deadbolt lock. These locks are deigned to sink deep into door frames, which in turn secures the door from all but the most violent of entry attempts. This is a task that can be done in a relatively short period of time if you're even the slightest bit handy with a few household tools. If not, please consider a local locksmith for the task. Not only can they provide professional-grade deadbolts but they can do the installation as well.

Exterior lighting is one of the most highly recommended home security measures. Choose a variety of lights when undertaking this task. Ground lights are great for lighting driveways and pathways. Landscaping lights will remove the shadows burglars love to lurk in, taking way one more advantage from them. Floodlights on the perimeter of your house will remove the largest shadow areas you’re your yard, which in turn keeps burglars far away from your house. They can be used in conjunction with motion detectors, which will leave them off until the zone protected by the motion detector is breached. They'll instantly illuminate, spotlighting anyone in the security zone.

Having a professionally installed and burglar alarm in your home monitored by ADT security is the most recommended security solution of all. A monitored system gives you around-the-clock protection, whether you're home or not, with instant notification if an emergency happens while you're away. Take the time to have one installed today, and give your family the protection they deserve.

Outdoor Lighting And Home Security Equipment

26 July, 2010

The primary reason burglars don't like well-lighted areas is obvious. After all, who wants their bad deeds under a spotlight for everyone to see? When it comes to home security, that's the whole point. If burglars like to lurk in the shadows, then take the shadows away from them. If they like to hide in an overgrown, unkempt shrub, do a little pruning and trimming and take away the hiding spot.

Defeating burglars is largely the practice of placing obstacles in their way. The more dangers you put in the path of a potential burglar, the more likely they are going to be to look for an easier target. Burglars will weigh the risk versus the reward, and if the chances of getting caught are high, and the potential haul from your house is only a few hundred dollars, the risk has far exceeded the reward and they'll leave in search of somewhere that presents better odds.

One of the most effective methods of home security is to add outdoor lighting around your house. It may not seem like that big of a deal, but for burglars it is. Again, that's the whole point. There are several different types of outdoor lighting to be considered, and each will function a bit differently from the others. It's important to use the right kind of lighting in the correct way to ensure optimal home security results.

The most popular and common method of outdoor lighting is the use of high-watt floodlights. They're relatively inexpensive, fairly easy to install, and just one bulb can light a sizeable area of your yard. Properly placed around the perimeter of your home, all the shadows that burglars use to their benefit can easily be removed.

Many homeowners augment exterior floodlights with motion sensors. This added feature gives you the control over when the floodlights will turn on. The electricity is always running to them, but with the motion sensor in place they'll actually remain off until the field-of-protection is breached. Once crossed, the floodlight will instantly turn on, illuminating the area. Many burglars have been caught in this manner making their way across someone's property.

Landscaping and pathway lights can also help protect against would-be burglars. Again, these types of lights will serve to further reduce the shadows in which so many burglars choose to hide. It comes down to illuminating your yard, and within reason more is certainly better than less.

For optimal home security, pair your outdoor lighting with home security equipment and ADT monitoring and sleep well at night knowing your house is being protected by the #1 name in the home security industry.

An Expanded Look At Home Security Safety Tips

25 June, 2010

Home security is a web of smaller elements that work together to create a whole system that is considerably stronger than its individual components. Deadbolt locks are great, but only if you actually use them to lock your doors. Strong dowels or rods are a great way to prevent sliding glass doors from being opened from the outside, but what good are they if they're standing against the door frame, or laying on the floor next to the sliding-door track?

These two items above – deadbolt locks and strong dowels – are simply components of home security, and both are made infinitely stronger and more effective when actually used in the manner in which they were intended. That's the whole web-creating part that makes the elemental components a completely different beast altogether when combined and used in conjunction with each other. That's the power of a multi-faceted approach to home security.

Here are some home security tips that, when used as an entire grouping of home security elements, will make your home a much safer and secure place for you, your family, and your belongings.

Consider the telephone habits of you and your children. When a person you don't know calls on the phone and asks of the man of the house if around, or if "your daddy is at home", what is the typical answer? If you're like most families you probably volunteer information that a probing burglar can use to his advantage. If you tell the person on the other end of the line that he won't be home until after ten, or if your children are quick to offer up that their parents are out to a movie and will be back later, you could potentially be offering information to a potential burglar. Instead, offer up that he's unavailable at the moment, get their name and number, and let them know you'll have him call just as quickly as he can.

Speaking of telephone habits, a serious breach of security is announcing on your voicemail message that you'll be out of town from such-and-such date, etc. Again, you're potentially divulging information that a house burglar can use to his advantage. A short message informing callers that you've somehow missed their call and will return it as quickly as possible as all that's necessary.

Along this same line of thinking, do not leave notes on the front door of your house. Many people do this, instructing delivery people, or telling kids to go to the neighbor's house, or that you're around the back working in the garden, etc. If the person on your porch or doorstep is a burglar looking for an indication that he could potentially rob your house, then you've tipped your hand and could return home to find several valuable items stolen.

Secure your entire house with a monitored ADT home security system. Get the protection you need and monitoring from ADT professionals around the clock, and give your family the peace of mind they deserve. Remember, home security means tying all the little things together into a great big impenetrable package.