The number of home ivasions continues to go up. Drugs, such as crack cocaine and methampetamines are common contributors to property crimes. Burglaries and theft from autos are prevalant neighborhood crimes. Quite often, when breaking into a car, a thief may be able to steal not only the contents of the car, but they may gain access to a garage door opener, allowing easy access into your home. Many people fail to lock the door from the garage into the house, making it easy for a burglar to enter. Household burglary is common because it is an easy crime to commit, often with no forced entry needed. Home intrusion commonly occurs during the daylight when the homeowners are gone. The burglar may watch your home for several days, noting your schedule, when your home is occupied, and when it is vacant.

While home burglary is easy to commit, it is also easy for a homeowner to prevent. A neighborhood watch is a good place to start, and has been proven to reduce crime. Most police departments will be very supportive of a neighborhood watch program, and will provide a wealth of information on how to set up a program. Members of a neighborhood watch look out for their neighbors, and report any suspicious activity to the police. Other steps can be taken to \”harden the target\”. This means taking steps to cause a theif to bypass your house, and move on to an easier target. Quality deadbolt locks, impact resistant glass, and outdoor motion sensor lights can make your home an undesirable target for thieves.

Most of these security items are relatively inexpensive, costing very little money or time to install. There are also many high-tech devices that were once too expensive, that now may be affordable for the average homeowner. A wireless video surveillance system can be found for around $50.00. Just mount the camera in the area that you want watched, and view the results on a channel on your TV.

One thing that you should consider, if you are indeed serious about home security, is to install a home security system. Homes without security systems are 3 times as likely to be broken into than homes with security systems. If you are renting, then a wireless security system may be your best choice. When you move, you can take the system with you. If you own a home, you can use either a wireless or a hardwired home security system. Hardwired systems generally are a bit more expensive, due to the longer installation time, running wires throughout the house, and connecting the various sensors. Wireless systems can be installed in hours, but are dependent on batteries, where a hardwired system can be wired right into your house\’s electricity. Either system will detect an intrusion and sound an alarm. The alarm may be a local siren, or a silent alarm to a security monitoring company, or in many cases, both. Talk to a local security company, and their representatives can come and look at your house, and make a recommendation on the best security system for your home and lifestyle.

Without a security system you are putting your property and your family at risk. Home invasions have reached the point where every homeowner must be aware of the dangers, and learn about the latest security products to keep them and their family safe.

Author Bio: Keep your family safe. Visit Home Security Resources to learn tips and information on keeping your home secure.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: locks, alarms, burglar alarms, security systems, surveillance, cameras, home security