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Is it Time to Change the Locks?

By Brian on Saturday, December 31st, 2011 | No Comments

By Richard Armen

Many people are far too generous with their house keys, never thinking that this might come back to harm them. Perhaps you give copies of the key to your housesitter, to your best friends, and of course, to your roommates and their significant others. But what happens when these keys get into the wrong hands?

When a roommate moves out, the standard advice is to change the locks, but very few people actually do this. Even if the roommate left on good terms, you have no way of knowing who now has access to your home. Perhaps she’s given a key to an old boyfriend, or to some of her friends. Do you want them showing up in your home unannounced? Even if you think this could never happen to you, the truth is that you never know where these keys end up once they’ve left your hands.

If your housekey is marked “Do Not Duplicate,” as many are, you may assume that you know exactly who has a key. While it is more difficult to get a copy of these keys, it is certainly not impossible. Although locksmiths have the right to deny anyone a copy of this key, a less scrupulous professional may copy these keys without hardly a thought to the reason behind this marking. Making a copy of these keys is not nearly as hard as you might expect; just because it’s marked “do not duplicate” doesn’t mean that there aren’t copies of it out there.

There are other ways for your key to get into the wrong hands than giving it away. What happens when your purse is stolen, with your keys inside? The thief has your drivers license, with your address, as well as your keyring with your house key. This is an immediate sign that you need to change the locks, lest this thief break in to your home by walking straight through the front door. Anytime your house key goes missing, especially if other identifying information has been taken as well, it is a sure sign that your door locks are no longer secure.

Finally, another threat to the safety of your house key comes in the form of the ubiquitous “hide-a-key.” While this is certainly a useful device when used appropriately, far too many people use this as an excuse to leave their key basically out in the open. For example, using a hide-a-key shaped like a rock, and then setting it on your deck with no other rocks in sight, is not going to fool anyone. Worse yet are those who keep their spare key under a flower pot or door mat, or resting on top of the door frame. These are the first three places any thief will look for a key! If you are going to hide a key outdoors, use a hide-a-key, and arrange it so that the object looks like it belongs there.

What does all of this mean for the safety of your home? Above all, you must be conscious of exactly where all copies your house keys are. If in doubt, change the locks! This may be a hassle, but it’s far better than coming home to find out that a thief has broken in by simply unlocking the front door.

About the Author: Resist Attack has a every brand of stun gun for the ultimate personal protection. Also check for current specials on a swimming pool alarm

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=541863&ca=Home+Management

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Security Lights

By Brian on Monday, December 26th, 2011 | No Comments

By Ralph Winn

Summer is here, and you know what that means: vacation. Whether you’re packing the family up and hitting the road or spending your leisure time at home by the pool, it is important to remember that security lights can help reduce crime in your neighborhood.

Statistics prove that crime rates skyrocket during the summer months. Kids are out of school, and families are out of town. Don’t let yourself be an easy target. An unlit home is a tempting invitation for a thief. Thick clusters of trees and shrubs in your yard can be ideal hiding spots. It doesn’t matter if you are at home or away – security lights send a strong message to criminals.

According to the FBI, adequate security lights are the #1 theft deterrent out there. Why wait for your alarm system to go off? Security lights can prevent potential break-ins before they happen.

Security lights can also be an attractive addition to your home. Like most Americans, you’ll probably be working on your yard this summer. Security lights can help you showcase all of your efforts. A few spotlights can add dramatic flair to your home’s exterior while preventing the unwanted drama of an attempted break-in.

You don’t have to be a home improvement expert to make your home and family safer this summer. Security lights are easy to install and many types are even programmable – just set a timer and your home will be illuminated whether you’re grilling burgers in the backyard or catching some sun on a faraway island paradise.

Which Security Lights are Right for You?

• Landscape Lights: Smaller, low-voltage lights that illuminate your front and back yard. These types of lights are perfect for highlighting plants and pathways. Landscape lighting can help with those darker corners around your house and keep your trees and shrubbery from becoming convenient hiding spots for lurking crooks.

• Floodlights: An ever-popular choice, floodlights are extremely bright and can be mounted anywhere – above the garage door, on the side of the house, or out by the pool. Floodlights are a good choice for illuminating a larger area. Floodlights make a great addition to any security lighting setup.

• Motion Detectors: Motion-sensing lights are an excellent way to stop unwanted visitors in their tracks. Bright and noticeable, these lights will stop any intruder by thrusting him into the spotlight – every burglar’s worst nightmare.

In addition to these types of security lights, there are many options available to make your lighting more convenient – from timers to on/off remote key chains, you are sure to find a way to make your security lights easy to use.

About the Author: Ralph Winn writes about Security Systems and other related topics. For more information on Home Security

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=169951&ca=Home+Management

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Home Security — Eight Things You Must Do To Deter Burglars

By Brian on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 | No Comments

By James Strobes

Why should you bother with preventive home security measures? Because of one simple fact — most home break-ins are crimes of opportunity.

Burglars don’t usually do much advance planning for specific break-ins. They pick out any target that seems to be easy. If closer examination reveals that your home is not an easy target, they just move on.

Here are 8 things you can do to prevent your home from looking like a soft target.

1. All doors and windows should be plainly visible from the street and to your neighbors. Large shrubs and hedges which hamper visibility make it easy for burglars to do their job.

That’s why any bushes and shrubs that are within four feet of sidewalks, driveways, doors, etc should be kept under a couple of feet high. Those within four to eight feet should be trimmed to not more than four feet high.

2. Do you place plants under window sills? If so, trim them to a foot lower than the window sill level.

3. Trees should not hamper visibility to your house. Also ensure that burglars can’t use trees to gain access to your second floor windows and doors. Trim trees so that the lowest branches are seven feet or more above the ground.

4. Large gauge gravel causes noise when burglars walk on it. Placing them under windows is a good psychological deterrent.

5. Use fencing around your house and keep gates locked (even when you are at home, if possible). This sounds elementary, but locked gates prevent burglars from making off easily with large items!

In other words, ensure that there are no quick exits from the house.

6. Grow thorny plants under windows and along fences. They are very discouraging to burglars. Fencing using thorny plants is as good as barbed wire fencing and looks a whole lot better.

7. Ensure that street numbers are clearly visible from the street. This helps anyone responding to emergency calls to reach your home faster.

House numbers placed on your house should be six inches high and made of reflective material. Alternatively, use black on white lettering. The numbers should be illuminated at night.

Paint your house number on the curb in front of your driveway, using black lettering on white background.

8. Don’t leave ladders and tools lying around. They should be locked away in a in a storage area or garage.

Get these eight things right and you will have enhanced your home security to a level that will make many potential burglars uneasy about targeting your home.

About the Author: James Strobes is a home and office security consultant. See http://www.homesecurityadvice.info/ and http://www.homesecurityadvice.info/Alarm-Systems.html for more information on home security.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=50234&ca=Family+Concerns

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Home Security How To Spot Suspicious Activity

By Brian on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 | No Comments

By Roger Overanout

In part nine of this series on home security, I am going to giver you a list of things to watch out for to help in spotting possibly suspicious people, its surprising how regularly we miss rather obvious signs that should put us on our guard.

1. Somebody going from house to house, this is particularly suspicious if, once a few homes have been visited, one or more of the people go into a back or side yard. It is even more suspicious if another remains in the front when this occurs. It may be that they are looking for a house to burglarize, or there could be a burglary in progress.

2. If somebody is waiting around in front of a home this becomes very suspicious if you know the homeowners are away. The individual you can see may be a lookout for a burglary that is in progress inside.

3. Everyone seen forcing an entry into a home. This is clearly suspicious at anytime and in any circumstances immediately dial 911 or 999 if in the U.K.

4. If you see anybody who does not live in the home, going into the yard, it is possible that a burglary is being committed.

5. Someone running away particularly if something valuable is being carried, they may be leaving the scene of a crime.

6. If you see somebody showing strange mental or physical symptoms, they may be injured or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

7. Anybody moving property may be considered suspicious in some circumstances. Perhaps if it is late at night or if the item is not wrapped, it is possible that the article has been stolen.

8. A large number of comings and goings from a particular house, this may not be suspicious, unless it occurs on a daily or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours when it could signify vice or drug related activities.

With all of the above situations you must use your common sense, in the majority of situations there is a perfectly innocent explanation for what you see but if you are not certain dial 911 or 999 in the U.K. and let the police investigate.

About the Author: For more vital home security tips and information about Home Security visit http://www.homesecuritynews.info You may reproduce this article provided you maintain an active link back to http://www.homesecuritynews.info

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=42269&ca=Family+Concerns

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