Is Home Security Really That Important?

I've heard many news stories about burglaries and home invasions, with the most recent one affecting a small town in Connecticut. My deep sympathy to Dr. Petit on his loss. While criminals will bust into your home if they really wanted to, there are ways of making it very hard for them to do so.

You'd be surprised how many homeowners neglect to think about how to secure their homes from burglars. With crime increasing year after year and slowly creeping into affluent, "safe communities," home security deserves your undivided attention.

Now without consulting the experts, (which I'll link up later on) I can come up with a few things to help deter burglars and make them think twice about targeting your home.

1. Locks - Make sure you have deadbolts on every door, even the door in garage
2. Doors - They should be solid hardwood or steel reinforced
3. Windows - Double pane would help and heavy duty sash locks
4. Timers - Place them in different areas and vary the time for each lamp to go on and off
5. Habits - It's not good to close all your drapes only when you're gone - change it up and close them all when you're home to throw off burglars who are staking you out
6. Lights - Motion sensor lights are a must for all areas where burglars might penetrate
7. Dogs - Of course a live one is great, but those electronic ones may do the trick
8. Phones - Turn ring volume down so it can't be heard from outside and never say you're gone on vacation on your answering machine
9. Garage Door - Electronic ones are best and remember to change the default password
10. System - Alarms should be a given and please put it to good use; neighbors are useful too

Now if you're thinking about defending your own property make sure you have some sort of training in the use of a gun, stick or blade. Sobering statistics indicate that most homeowners have their weapons turned on themselves. Also, be prepared to use it. There's no hesitating when the shit hits the fan. When you strike, strike with conviction. I'm an escrima (filipino martial art) instructor and I teach the use of the single stick and empty hand. I know I will not hesitate to use one of my sticks, placed in certain areas of the house, on the poor unlucky robber.

If you go to www.howtoadvice.com/HomeSecurity, you'll find more detailed explanations on how you can make your home more secure. Be safe!

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