Easy Ways To Reinforce Home Security

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Being street smart is one requirement for people who live alone. But what does this really mean? Should you buy every new home security tool to continue to be safe? Of course not, but you also need to understand that as a single person, you are in charge of your defense and you may wish to invest in your self-preservation skills to keep away from becoming a target of an intruder assault. Here are some easy and inexpensive strategies to boost your protection against criminals...

1. Set up Hard-to-Pick Locks

Lock picking is an art that lots of thieves have mastered and you have to be aware of this. Investing on locks that won't get picked quickly means you have time to call the police or alert the neighbor if an intruder is in your backyard.

2. Exterior Lighting Fixtures

Yes it can be a drain on your electrical energy, but keeping your backyard lights open could dissuade criminals. Cover the lights with a shielding case if possible in order that the robber won't be able to easily break them. If you think about it, the electricity fee is very marginal if you make it a habit to turn off the garden lighting fixtures in the crack of dawn. What matters is you're relatively safer at nighttime if the backyard lighting fixtures are turned on. Intruders do not want to attract attention, and they normally hate being under bright light while they are trying to sneak in.

3. Avoid Flimsy Curtains

Blinds conceal and give protection to you, while flimsy curtains plainly advertise that you're always on your own inside the home. In addition, flimsy curtains could make it easy for any individual to look inside and have a look at your home security safeguards.

4. Have Espresso at Home with a Friend Occasionally

When you live on your own, you never know who may be observing your habits. Having a friend over in the afternoons for coffee might make it seem like you do not live on your own. And, whatever you do, never let people know you live alone. Dodge the question, or say something vague if anyone asks straight. In fact, you should be wary of any stranger who pointedly asks if you live by yourself.

5. Setting up Bells

Bells are most commonly used for religious and artistic reasons, but you can also use these noisy devices for your home security. Install the chimes inside the doorway instead of outside. Wind or a slight breeze could make the bells ring if they're set up outside the doorway, but if they're installed inside and they ring in the middle of the night, it might mean that an interloper is in the house.

6. Be a Great Neighbor

Being in great terms with your neighbors may save your valuable life. You don't need to be so attached to them that they stay on a daily basis but you must always avoid entering into fights with your neighbors considering the fact that they may be the only ones who could help you should you call for help. Don't irritate them by being boisterous all the time, so that when you do make some noise, they will instantly know something is wrong.

7. Duck Calls and Whistles

You know the cliche about sleeping with your gun beneath your cushion? Having a duck call or whistle under your pillow rather than a gun is way safer. If you wake up in the middle of the night sensing an interloper inside the house, you can use your whistle to alert the neighbors.

8. Learn Baton Combat

Having a baseball bat, a long baton, a metal cylinder or a any blunt weapon around to serve as your main self defense weapon may be suitable if you're disinclined to owning a handgun. But, if you're not well-acquainted with using your bat, it could quickly be grabbed from you, or worse, used against you.

Security Gates and Grilles

More effective policing and community watch have done much to reduce burglaries and break ins in the Midlands but the fact is if you want a really safe home for your family, or secure business premises, you have to take care of things yourself by installing security gates and security grilles.

Adding security gates and security grilles to your windows can go a long way towards making your home and business impregnable to thieves and vandals. These highly effective items, also known as window bars, window grilles, and window security gates, form shields against intruders while allowing in light and air.

Bear in mind that most burglaries are opportunist acts done on the spur of the moment and a prowling burglar is always on the lookout for an easy mark in the form of a house or office without adequate security protection.

The fact is that buildings with no extra security measures are much more likely to be targeted by thieves. Statistics show that houses with simple security measures such as locks on windows and deadlocks on doors are ten times less likely to be burgled than those with none. Imagine, then, how much protection proper security gates and grilles can give you.

So when considering the best ways to protect your domestic and business premises, you need to focus on the main point of vulnerability - your doors and windows. In order to effectively block intruders from entering via your doors and windows, you need security gates and grilles.

Security gates and grilles are protective grills that you install behind your doors and windows. Manufactured from high-strength aluminium alloys to a special security design, security gates are either fixed or retractable. In your home they can be fitted to the door or window surround and be hidden behind curtains. A pelmet can then hide the top track. For shops, you can also display your merchandise around the clock and be sure it's well protected by the security grille on your shop windows.

These gates also provide security when the doors and windows are open for ventilation. Retractable gates can be quickly unlocked to allow people to exit in the case of an emergency such as a fire.

Another plus for security gates is that they're easy on the eye. You can get them in a range of designs including cross lattice and diamond shapes, and in a range of colours. Most are coated with ultra violet resistant polyester powder for durability and ease of cleaning. That's another great thing about these security gates - their easy to use and require almost no maintenance.

Other than making it almost impossible for burglars to get into your premises, adding security in the form of security gates also sends a message to the bad guys that you're serious about protecting your home, family and business. It's a great example of highly visible physical security. So what should you look for when shopping for security gates and grilles?

You can choose security gates and grills in various types depending on the level of protection you need.

• Premium items with hardened steel rods in the profile of the grille and hardened steel links can withstand attacks from hacksaws or drills. Multi-point locking is another feature that offers enhanced security.
• High security window grilles offer effective protection against intruders and are best used in together with other systems such as alarms and security cameras.
• Medium security grills are effective against opportunist intruders and are suitable for lower risk areas. Again they should be used in conjunction with other types of security device.

When choosing security grilles for your home and business premises, be sure to get models with no external rivets. These make the gates easier to tamper with.

Security gates and retractable grills offer your home and commercial premises a high level of protection against intruders. These devices have been approved by the official police security initiative and so are recommended by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

So if you want an attractive barrier to keep intruders out and let in as much air and light as possible, look into installing retractable security gates and grilles into your home or business.

You'll find reputable vendors with full details of their products on their websites. And by dealing direct online, you can save a lot of money on your purchase.

Apartment Safety - Going on Vacation

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WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION

  
·    Remember, unless there is a Cop reading this over your shoulder, YOU ARE NOT SAFE! The police do a pretty good job of SOLVING crimes. They cannot PREVENT crimes. The your safety, the safety of your family, and the protection of your property is YOUR responsibility.

·    One of the times your home is most vulnerable is when it is left empty for an extended period of time. Darkened windows, mail or newspapers collecting and closed windows in hotter weather all advertise your absence to a potential burglar.

·    The best protection for your apartment during your absence is to have a house sitter. A friend you trust staying at your house can take care of your pets and/or plants in addition to making sure the house is inhabited.

·    Have a neighbor check on your apartment while you're away -- turning on lights, radios or TVs and opening and closing curtains will give your apartment the appearance of someone home.

·    If you don't have a friend or neighbor to housesit or check your apartment while you're away -- perhaps even if you do -- you should keep not only lights but a TV or radio on a timer. If you're like me and have your TV on almost all the time you're home [NOTE: I don't watch it, it's just background noise.], the absence of the sound and that glowing light in the windows announces that you're not there.

·    Make sure whoever is checking your apartment while you're away knows how to work your alarm system and who to call in case of a problem.

·    Unless you have a house sitter, stop your mail and any newspaper or other delivery. Nothing announces an empty apartment better than a stack of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. Ask a nearby neighbor to pick up any packages delivered while you're gone.

·    If you have a garden or plants on your balcony, make sure someone is watering the plants regularly or put the plants where they can't be seen. Plants slowly dying due to lack of water may announce your absence.

·    Check your lease. Many landlords require that you notify them if your apartment is going to be left empty for any period of time (this is so they can enter in case of emergency even if they can't reach you). If you've got a house sitter this isn't necessary.