HOW SECURE IS YOUR HOME

13 Home Security Secrets You Should Know By Michelle crouch 

1The single most important component of a home security system is the alarm company's sign in your front yard. In survey after survey, burglars say they avoid homes with alarms, so let thieves know your home is secured (even if it isn't). 2Another sign worth posting: Beware of dog. Burglars hate dogs, not only because they bite but also because they bark, attracting attention. True, Spot can't call the cops, but he can persuade a crook to move on. 3Professional systems can cost upward of $600 for installation alone, but they have perks. Many allow you to arm or disarm them from a key chain or phone. Some are also connected to smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 4If you do sign up with an alarm company, know this: Service contracts can be hard to cancel. Many companies have three-year contracts, and some force you to pay for the full term even if you terminate early. Certain contracts even have auto-­renew clauses that require you to cancel at a very specific time or you're stuck for another three years. 5For about $150, you can buy and install an off-the-shelf home security system yourself. Most are wireless, easy to set up, and require no special mounting hardware. Some even offer professional monitoring, if you don't mind a monthly fee. 6Most burglars ring the doorbell before they try to break in to make sure no one is home. Catch them by mounting a motion-activated wireless security camera by your front door for as little as $100. Set it up to alert you on your phone anytime someone steps onto your porch. 7 When you go out of town, create the illusion that you're home by putting your lights on timers or getting LED bulbs you can control remotely. For about $20, you can buy a TV simulator that mimics the light of the real thing but uses a lot less power. 8Because more than 80 percent of all burglar-alarm calls nationwide are false alarms, some police departments won't even show up if there isn't video or eyewitness evidence. If you're not paying for professional monitoring, deputize a reliable neighbor to double-check any alarms at your house when you're away. 9One more reason to enlist your neighbors? Even when police do decide to respond, it can take them 30 to 45 minutes to arrive at your home. A crook can be in and out of there in ten minutes ... 10 ... or less, if your doors have clear glass panels. Burglars love them because they make it that much easier to smash, grab, and run-and because they show off your steal-worthy possessions. If you've got glass, get it frosted or keep it covered (your windows too). 11Another thing crooks love? The five-foot fence around your backyard. A U.S. Department of Justice study noted that intruders are more likely to target homes with high fences and walls to conceal them. 12 Do yourself a favor and turn your alarm on even if you're headed out for a quick errand. One study found that 41 percent of alarm-equipped homes were burglarized when the alarms weren't armed. 13Finally, lock your doors even when you're home. You'd be shocked by how many thieves sneak in through an open garage or front door while the owner is out back.