Easy and Practical Ways to Prevent a Home Invasion

Your home is your castle. It's where you raise your family, where you keep those precious heirlooms that have been handed down generation to generation. Many people work from home, which means your computers and important files are there as well. Your recreational vehicles, your jewelry, even that pile of cash you keep around for emergencies is all right there, and the last thing you'd ever want is to come home one day and find all those expensive goods have disappeared. Home invasions are quite common, but that doesn't mean you have to fall prey. Just keep your wits about you, and follow some of these easy and practical tips designed to help prevent a home invasion.

First of all, make sure your home is not an easy target. Keep all of your hedges well trimmed, so burglars can't sneak up to your front door without being seen from the street. Have exterior lights installed, and put them on a motion sensor. There's no deterrent like a bright light when someone is trying to stalk around. And though it probably goes without mentioning, keep your front door locked when you're not home and while you and your family are sleeping.

Take a look around the property and analyze the security of your other entrances. Are your windows easy to break open, or do they have quality locking mechanisms? Are there back doors, or small entrances to the basement that can be exploited? Is the garage locked, or can the automatic opener be circumvented for manual access? Try to think outside the box as well. If you have trees that grow close to your house, can they be used to access the second floor? You might not think to worry about locking the upstairs windows, but they are a fantastic way for a criminal to get where he wants to go. The savvy home invader will be able to take advantage of any of these lapses in security, so seek them out yourself and rectify anything you can.

You should also be aware of the garbage you put on the curb. Any personal paperwork, including bank and credit card statements should always be shredded before you throw them out. Someone can easily go through this stuff, and use it to potentially gain access to your security system or your accounts. If you make any large purchases, especially things like flatscreen TVs or computers, never leave the boxes out in plain site. Those empty boxes are like advertisements that there's something new in the house worth stealing. Break the boxes down and put them inside a recycling bin to avoid giving passing criminals any temptation.

If you're concerned about your neighborhood's safety or you just want to take your efforts to the next level, consider having a security system installed. The best ones are monitored 24/7 by an outside company. If an entrance is breached they'll be able to immediately inform the authorities, meaning your property will be protected even if you aren't home when something goes awry. There's also the added benefit of fire security as well. Do a quick online search for the right system for your needs. A site like www.securitysystems.net is a great place to start.