The next consideration is an alarm system, but many people hesitate at installing one because of the cost, the hassle, or because they don’t understand the value of it.

It’s generally agreed that alarm systems can deter burglars. Homes with alarms are less likely to be targeted than homes without alarms. A burglar wants to work without being seen or heard, and the sound of a loud alarm can send him running.

However, the alarm itself can only warn that a break-in has occurred. The only way an alarm keeps a burglar from even trying to get in is if he knows it’s there and doesn’t want to risk being detected if he activates the alarm. This is why homes that have alarm systems often display signs or window stickers from the alarm company, as a warning to a potential intruder.

Home security systems with alarms range from simple, single-point devices to complex systems covering the perimeter and interior of the entire house with a connection to a private security company. For most people, something in between these extremes will work quite well. You alone can decide how much security you want and what you can afford to pay for.

You also have to decide if you’re willing to change your lifestyle a bit to accommodate an alarm system. For example, if all your doors and windows have sensors on them that are tied into a central unit, then you have to close every door and window before you can arm the system. And if you forget that the alarm is on and open a window for some fresh air, you’ll set off the alarm.

But don’t let this concern you too much. Many systems are easy to live with. You can quickly become used to the procedures of arming and disarming the alarms, and learn how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident.

It’s best to stay away from home security systems that are so complex you end up deciding it’s not worth the bother to set the alarm each time you go to bed or leave the house. Find something that everyone in your household can operate and that you can use consistently and you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have another line of defense in your house.

It’s true that an alarm is an important part of your home security system, because it can scare off a potential intruder and alert the police. Many advanced systems today also allow you to monitor your home while you are away, and some include features such as carbon monoxide monitoring. Still, there’s a lot you can do beyond installing an alarm to help insure your home’s security.

Let’s start with landscaping. A burglar looking to get into your home doesn’t want to be seen by neighbors or someone passing by. He’ll look for places to hide near your house, and some of the best hiding places are behind bushes.

It’s best not to allow large bushes to grow too close to your house — burglars won’t mind getting a few scratches from a bush if it means they can get near a window without being seen.

Proper outdoor lighting is a cost-effective way to discourage burglars who like to strike at night, or in the late evening while the owners are out. A house that’s completely dark is inviting to a burglar. You can avoid making your home an easy target by installing outdoor lights, either on timers or activated by motion detectors, or a combination of both.

Having sturdy doors and windows seems like an obvious deterrent to burglars. True. But it doesn’t matter how strong your doors and windows are if you don’t close and lock them. A lot of break-ins happen through unlocked entryways, so an important part of your home security is simply locking your doors and windows.

Garages are another consideration many homeowners neglect. If your garage is attached to your house, make sure it is kept securely locked.

Beyond the fact that a burglar might steal some items from an unlocked garage, he can also gain easy access to your house. Even if the door between the garage and the house is secure, the burglar knows he has more time to work on it, since he’ll be hidden from view in the garage while trying to break in. Plus, he may find a lot of tools there to help him break in.

Finally, if you do have a home security system that includes an alarm system from a reputable company, make sure any potential burglars are aware of that. You can place stickers on your windows alerting them to the fact that the house is protected by an alarm system. Just make sure the stickers are in an obvious spot, since they don’t do much good if an intruder doesn’t see them.

First of all, most burglars are amateur opportunists. They’ll pick the easy targets and avoid anything that looks too hard. They also don’t want to get hurt or get caught, which is more likely to happen if they break in while you’re home. A lot of burglaries happen during the day when most people are at work, or in the evening when the homeowners are enjoying a night out.

Go outside your home and look at it as a burglar would.

Walk around tyour home and look for good hiding places. If you were trying to break in, could you hide from view while trying to get in a door or window — behind bushes, garbage cans, or a recess in a wall? How easy is it to get next to your house without being seen?

Now look in your windows. Do you see anything of value that might tempt a burglar or that advertises that you have something worth stealing? If so, you may want to move the valuable items away from windows so they can’t be seen.

Are your doors and windows sturdy? An expensive lock doesn’t do much good if the door can easily be kicked in. Both the door and the frame around it need to be strong and solid, so that the door cannot be easily jimmied with a crowbar.

Try gently prying doors and windows with a large screwdriver and see if they give a little. Don’t do this hard enough to damage anything, just enough to test for weak spots.

If you locked yourself out of the house, would you be able to get in through a window? If so, that’s how a burglar could get in. Many windows, especially if they’re old, can be easily pried open and don’t offer much security against a determined intruder.

Now approach your house by walking past your neighbor’s houses, still thinking like a burglar. Which ones look the most inviting?

If your neighbors have alarm systems, and your house doesn’t, what might that suggest to a potential burglar? You might be the most desirable target on the block if you don’t have a home security system installed. On the other hand, if your house has an alarm system and you advertise that fact with yard signs or window stickers, a burglar will think twice about trying to break in, especially if there’s a more tempting target up the street.

By taking some time to look at your home from a burglar’s point of view, you can get some good ideas on how to improve your home’s security.

And the sad fact is, the vast majority of these crimes are preventable. There are basic and inexpensive steps which you can take to prevent the loss or damage of your valuables and increase the safety of yourself and your loved ones. The purpose of this report is to clearly show you these basic steps to preventing burglary.

We’ll also be going over what to do in case of a break-in (whether you’re in the house when it happens or not), as well as vital fire safety information. Also included are tips for protecting your apartment, if you rent.

Who Would Break Into A Home?
The image of the stealthy, skilled cat-burglar (as portrayed in movies and on television) is almost totally false. The vast majority of burglars, residential thieves and other home invaders are amateur opportunists. They are looking for quick and easy money, in this case by making off with your stuff which they can quickly resell.

This means that anything you do to make it harder to break into your home, or any changes that make you home less appealing to break into will vastly reduce your chances of being targeted by one of these parasites.

So what makes a specific home an appealing target? A number of things. The most immediate are:

• Unlocked doors and windows.
• Homes without an alarm system.
• Homes that appear unoccupied.
• High-priced valuables visible from the front of the house.
• Visible hiding places around the outside of the home (because of landscape features or lack of light).

These are the main things that burglars look for when targeting a property. Burglars like these things because they increase the chances of getting in and out, with goods, without getting caught. Looking over the above list, you can probably guess a few of the topics we’re going to talk about.

Again, anything you can do that will make it harder and less appealing to break into your home is a step in the right direction.

There are four main “components” to preventing burglaries and minimize the damage from break-ins. In the next section we’re going to discuss these components, but before we go any further I want you to know the two most important steps you can take to secure your home:

1. Lock your doors and windows: I cannot over-emphasize this one enough. Over a quarter of all break-ins happen through unlocked doors and windows. Even if you’re stepping out for just a few minutes, make sure doors and windows are locked. Even if you’re home, make sure doors and windows are locked. This includes garage doors.

2. Have a monitored security system installed: According to the FBI, homes that are protected with a monitored alarm system that is announced clearly on signs around the property are 400% less likely to be broken into. It’s one of the most effective deterrents you can have. You need the whole system though, not just the signs. While the signs are a definite deterrent, some burglars will look inside for signs of an alarm system.

Also, a monitored alarm system is an absolutely vital part of ALL of the components we’ll be talking about in the next section. A monitored security system is proven to be an effective deterrent; can increase the response time of emergency personnel; and most importantly provides you an early warning if someone breaks in while you’re home.

Here’s something that might shock you: The majority of burglaries happen during the day (from 6 AM until 6 PM) when you’re out of the home. Most burglars do not want to run into you. Some will even watch from nearby until you leave for work or the store.

If you have a monitored alarm, emergency personnel will be summoned when an intruder breaks into a protected area (whether you’re home or not), which increases the chances of keeping your valuables. Also, emergency personnel being summoned decreases the chances of the burglar still being in your home when you get back.

With that in mind, 3 On Your Side has discovered that home security is apparently becoming pretty advanced and consumers like it. With three kids, Deanna Jordon is a busy mom.