In Houston, a home security system can give a homeowner the peace of mind they want as they try to keep their loved ones and property as safe as possible. A home alarm can, indeed, ward off would-be burglars much more effectively than a phony security systems sign in your Houston home, because criminals know that quality home alarm companies do not allow non-customers to display their signs. Simply hanging out a completely false sign from a non-existent company doesn’t work either, for smart burglars know which companies are legitimate and which are not.

A few tips to keep in mind when you do decide to order a home security system are:

Use a licensed vendor. A license does not necessarily guarantee that the company you hire will be honest and capable, but it does indicate that the vendor who is going to install, repair or service your home’s system has been registered with the state. This registration means that the vendor has met all of the minimum criteria and carries proof of insurance or bonding—so you have that added protection as well.

A local alarm system is not as effective. An alarm system that only sounds on the protected premises—and therefore is not monitored—are not nearly as effective as a monitored alarm system. Investing in a local alarm means that you are counting on neighbors to call the police if it is set off. It is a much better idea to have a licensed vendor monitor a wired system.

The best alarms use phone lines. The most reliable alarms use phone lines that are routed through metal conduits that prevent them from being cut.

Your Houston home alarm system should combine perimeter and interior detection. The most effective security systems protect every door of your Houston home with a switch device. Whether the homeowner chooses to cover every window (or every downstairs window) can get expensive, which means that the decision to do so should be helped by a local vendor that can give you advice about the type of crime common in your particular area. When window protection is desired, glass-break sensors are the preferred type of device.

Interior devices cover a specific space and are usually wall-mounted. Passive infra-red sensors are the least sensitive to false alarms, because they are not set off by pets, air current changes or similar sources of heat. Remember to account for coverage in the home’s attic access in semi-exposed locations such as the garage. It is also a good idea to consider installing panic buttons at fixed locations.

Every Houston home security system uses a unique coding system. Make sure to find a coding system that works for you. This may mean that everyone in your family uses a particular code, or it may mean that your “arming” and “disarming” codes have different codes. If you employ a household worker, then a different arming and disarming code is great, since it lets the worker arm the system, but not turn the system off.

Security systems for your Houston home must be tested regularly. Set up a schedule with your Houston home alarm company to test your system at least once a month. Wireless systems are usually self monitoring and will signal the user if the battery starts to become low.
Safeguard Home Security can provide new clients with a high quality security system installation, security system repair and monitoring for homes throughout the Houston area. We offer a range of home security equipment and house alarm systems, and we are sure to have a system that fits your budget and specifications. Call us today at 800 785-6488 for more information on how we can serve you.

http://www.safeguardhomesecurity.com/articles/houston-home-security-tips.html

Article Source: Houston Home Security: Tips for Getting the Most out of your Houston Home Alarm

Any website may use a number of different applications to ensure the best possible experience for their visitors. Unfortunately these applications can fall victim to the hackers, who exploit any weaknesses held within them to gain access to parts of the website with a view to doing damage or gaining information that should be kept private.

For example, we have probably all received emails from time to time that purport to be from a well known national or international bank, telling us that our account details need to be updated. Apart from the fact that half the time you don’t even have an account with that bank (proving just how many people must receive these emails for them to be effective), if you take a look at the URL it directs you to – don’t ever actually click on it though – you will see that there is usually a subtle difference between that URL and the real one. It may only be one letter different but that difference is all it takes to dupe people into giving the scammers their information.

While many people don’t fall for these, a worrying number of people still do and that means it is even more important that your own website and applications are as secure as possible, so hackers cannot access them and meddle with any of your own applications.

So what is the best route to take to make sure you can do this?

The answer is to hire a company that provides application penetration testing. This is the surest way to find out how secure your systems are to begin with, and if any loopholes or vulnerabilities are found by the experts you can be sure that they will solve the problems before anyone else finds out about them and exploits them.

It may be that your applications are perfectly sound, but whatever the company finds you can be sure you will receive the one thing you really want for you and your clients, and that is peace of mind.

There is no doubt that the businesses who can legitimately say they perform regular checks in this and other areas of internet security will be rewarded by more business and more customers. Security is one of the biggest issues online today and it will always be in your best interests to do all you can to protect yourself and your customers.

The benefits of application testing not only include finding and highlighting any potential problem areas, they also include resolving them so that they aren’t ripe for being exploited in the future.

But don’t make the mistake of having this testing done once and then never having it done again. The world of hacking is always changing and advancing, and just because your website is deemed to be safe now, that doesn’t mean it will always be so. Make sure you get application testing done on a regular basis as your experts would advise, so that you are always protected against the latest threats and advances in the field.

Pure Hacking helps protect your Internet security by providing world-class penetration testing and ethical hacking risk management services. For a free consultation, please visit Penetration Testing.

Article Source: Application Security

Knowing that you, your loved ones and your belongings are safe and secure in your home is one of the most important factors in your own peace of mind. Though no one would intentionally put their family at risk by making mistakes with home security, there are a few common errors and oversights that can be found at many homes. Thieves and criminals make it their business to look for these weaknesses first when targeting a home. Be sure that your home does not have one of these Achilles’ Heels that could put your home and family in jeopardy,

Important Home Security Tips

~ Never hide keys to your house on the exterior of your home. Thieves will search for hide-a-key rocks, under eaves and overhangs, and beneath the doormat before actually forcing entry, in many cases.

~ Keep home and car door locked at all times. Even when you are in your home, criminals can be bold. By leaving doors unlocked, you could put your personal safety at risk.

~ Lock up all tools and ladders. By leaving these items lying around, it can be as dangerous as sending out an invitation to burglars to come on in and help themselves.

~ Don’t keep large amounts of cash and valuables in your home. If a thief was to break in, having these items in the bank or a safe deposit box would prevent large-scale losses and insurance claims.

~ When going away, arrange for mail and paper deliveries to be held until your return or have someone pick them up early. Minimize the number of people who know that you are out of town.

~ Always be sure to turn your home security system on whenever you leave your home. The alarm system certainly cannot work properly if it is not set, so turn it on, even if you will only be gone for a few minutes.

~ If you return home to find that there are signs of a break in, do not enter your home. Remain outside and call 911 for police assistance. Your personal safety is much more important than the items inside your home.

Keeping you home safe and secure is important, so be sure to do regular checks of your locks and other home security devices. By finding any weaknesses as soon as possible and by correcting any unsafe habits, you can help to protect your home and family from potential harm.

Five Great Reasons You Need a Home Security System
A home security system is a major purchase that should not be taken lightly. While for some people, the decision seems cut and dried; for others, it takes careful consideration and analysis. If you are among those battling with the decision to purchase and install a home security system, here are a few great reasons that might make your decision a little easier.
•Protection for your valuables - Whether you live in a questionable area with a high crime rate or just have many valuables that you wish to protect, having a security system installed can help to prevent break-ins and theft. Even a basic system can be enough to deter many would-be thieves.
•Cut insurance costs - Homeowners insurance can be extremely expensive, especially for those in high crime areas or those with home contents that are worth a large amount of money. Having the right security measures in place can reduce homeowners insurance premiums, ultimately paying for itself in the savings, over time.
•Protect your home and family from disaster - Certain home security products do more than just protect your home from criminals and theft. The features of some systems can alert you and necessary authorities to fire or dangerous carbon monoxide levels in your home, potentially saving lives.
•Assist your family in medical emergency - Other home security systems have built in features that will alert Emergency Medical Services when medical emergencies take place and you cannot reach the phone. This usually requires wearing a panic button, but can be very useful for the elderly or those with serious medical concerns who live alone.
•Give yourself peace of mind - Just knowing that your home and family are safe can make installing a home security system well worth the effort and expense. It is comforting to know that the extra level of protection that you need is in place, ready to alert you to problems or ward off those who wish to do you harm.

Though home security systems are not fool-proof, they are one of the best solutions to protect your property and family. If you still have questions about whether a home security system can benefit you, contact a professional security company for a consultation. They can help you to determine whether you need a system and which security features will be the best choice for your own needs.

www.homesecurityfamily.com

Article Source: Common Home Security Mistakes

When it comes to protecting your home, you cannot go wrong with ADT home security systems. Providing you with the best, most high tech home security systems in America, ADT can help you protect yourself and your family from intruders.

One can buy home security systems on their own or you can join them to add extra protection to your home. If you get a basic burglary and a video surveillance system you will be protected very well.

Is Video Surveillance for you?

You should contemplate using video surveillance and also a basic home security package from ADT for numerous reasons. One feature is that you can answer your door with first knowing who is there.

The alarm, installed by ADT will only sound if an intruder breaks into your house, naturally. Opening your door for an intruder leaves no chance for the alarm to sound if the intruder pushes past you. Give yourself the peace of mind of knowing who is at your door without opening it with a video surveillance system.

You also have the ability to check on your house from any location in the world. In fact, whether if you are on the road or out of town for whatever reason anytime, you can actually get first hand what exactly is happening during the day wherever you are. This is a great idea if you have to leave your kids home alone or if you employ a nanny. Who can say? Always be alert, people that you trust in your house, the housekeeper, the nanny or the handyman could be stealing your personal belongings. Obviously, if there’s not an intrusion into your home, then the alarm will not be triggered. Setting up a monitoring system gives one the ability to check for potential difficulties visually.

Of the extras one can add to a ADT home security system, video surveillance is a fantastic one. Other security measures should be used along with the home security system for maximum protection of the home. Because ADT is the best security system in America, they come with a guarantee, but even the best systems cannot protect you from burglars who get in when you open the door!

No matter who you are or where you live, ADT home security systems are designed to meet your needs. Purchasing a surveillance or video package will be more than worth the extra money. These extra safeguards will give you extra peace of mind and reduce your premiums further. Is there anything else you would want?

Betty Campbell writes about ADT home security products to keep you and your home safe. Read her reviews if you are looking for ADT alarm system or ADT professional and emergency service to find the best deals!

Article Source: ADT Security Services secure Your Home And Family

While swimming pools can be a source of great fun, they can also be hazardous. This is particularly true for young children and pets, as it’s unfortunately very easy for them to accidentally fall into the water. So in order to prevent tragedies from occurring, pool owners need to take steps to enhance the safety and security of their pool and the surrounding area.

An additional concern for swimming pool owners is pool maintenance. By protecting the pool from harsh winter weather, the lifespan of the pool will be extended and spring openings will be much faster and easier. Fortunately, it’s possible for pool owners to provide a high level of safety while also protecting their pool from debris and algae growth simply by using mesh safety pool covers.

Mesh pool covers are constructed from incredibly lightweight yet extremely durable two-ply mesh material. Due to the inherent strength of the material as well as the criss-crossed webbing, in-ground mesh pool covers provide outstanding safety and security. When properly fastened to the pool deck, these covers create a trampoline effect and can withstand more than 4000 pounds of weight or tension. This means that your children and pets will be protected from accidental drownings and you can enjoy increased peace of mind knowing that your family is safe.

In addition to providing maximized safety, mesh swimming pool covers also provide first-rate winter protection for backyard pools. With the help of a mesh cover, spring pool openings don’t need to be time-consuming or frustrating. Instead of removing your winter cover to find leaves and accumulated debris that will take hours to remove, you can simply vacuum the fine silt from the bottom of the pool and be ready for hours of fun with friends and family during the new swimming season.

As a result of their webbed construction, mesh safety pool covers catch leaves and debris and prevent them from entering the water. At the same time, there’s no need to pump off or otherwise remove any standing water from the cover because rain and snow will drain right through the mesh fabric. Also, when the leaves and debris filtered by the cover dry off, they will simply blow away, so there’s no need to sweep or clean the cover during the winter months.

Mesh pool covers will also provide winter protection and safety for your family year after year. While they are constructed from super-strong material, in-ground mesh pool covers are also designed to resist UV radiation, rot and mildew. These covers are also able to withstand harsh chemicals such as chlorine. This means that mesh swimming pool covers have a long lifespan and are very difficult to damage and wear out.

In addition to the reliability of mesh safety pool covers stemming from their durable construction, proper installation of these covers provides highly dependable protection in the sense that they won’t come loose or unfastened. Secured by strategically placed straps and non-corrosive brass anchors, mesh covers are held taut and will not be blown off by windstorms. In fact, some mesh pool covers come with a safety installation rod, without which it can be very difficult to remove the fastenings, so the cover cannot be accidentally loosened.

Another great feature of in-ground mesh pool covers is that they can be custom made to fit swimming pools of practically any shape or size. There are also standard shapes and sizes available, but it’s very important to select a cover that will fit your pool precisely in order to have the benefit of maximized safety and winter protection. When fitted and installed properly, mesh swimming pool covers also improve the appearance of pool decks, as they do not accumulate standing water and do not require the use of unsightly ropes or water bags.

Perhaps best of all, mesh covers are extremely convenient. While providing exceptional strength and durability, these covers are very lightweight and easy to handle. Very simple to put on and remove, mesh safety covers take the strain and hassle out of swimming pool closings and openings. In fact, mesh covers are so easy to use that many families use them year-round rather than just during the winter months.

While you may think that mesh safety pool covers are too expensive to seriously consider, that may not actually be true. Mesh covers are typically more affordable than solid safety covers and are available for great value from reliable and respected discount retailers such as Intheswim.com. There are also a variety of brands and models available to choose from, including economy covers which offer heavy-duty quality at a very reasonable cost. Moreover, mesh swimming pool covers are a great investment as they will provide you and your family with a high level of safety, winter protection and peace of mind for many years to come.

James Claypool is experienced specialist in pool equipment including mesh safety pool covers. He explains all advantages of using mesh pool covers for swimming pool safety.

Article Source: Mesh Safety Pool Covers

Coventry, the world’s first twin city is located in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry cathedral is the newest cathedral in the world and the town boasts of an ever-expanding motor industry.

Tourist and frequent passengers alike, travel to Coventry. For a tourist, a UK tour features the town for its industrial richness. Let us first attempt to understand what an average tourist would like to do just after boarding in the town.

Obviously, unless he has a unique agenda, he may wish to see a few places of interest in town. This can be made possible with a rented car. Fortunately, there is no dearth of car rental suppliers. Cars are available for as cheap as 20 pounds and the prices can vary up to 140 pounds in general conditions and can go a notch or two higher for fancy high-end cars.

Who can shy away from the fact that tourists get peace of mind when they know in advance that some car on rental is ready for them? In such a case, they begin to anticipate convenient traveling; this alone takes away a lot of their stress - much of it caused by transportation issues. Fortunately, almost everyone can rent a car easily online these days.

Visit a car rental website that ties up with many top car rental suppliers. They may cater to over 400 car suppliers globally. By going to a Global car hire search engine, a traveler can get the type of car he wants, at cheaper rates. The rates that he will get is all inclusive and there shouldn’t be any hidden costs. These are usually the best rates available.

Let’s take up both statements. Primarily, the rates are all inclusive as it covers for Road fund taxes and VAT and other local taxes. Further more, the breakdown assistance is for free. In the event of any cancellation prior to traveling, they also waive the cancellation fee. Apart from this, there is a premium location fee charged by most car hire agencies for showing you the best places around. Bookings made through an online car search portal may enable you to waive this fee. Note that this is only possible if you book through car rental portals. There is also a car theft indemnity for the travelers.

Let’s understand the second point; An online car rental network manages to give the best possible fare, a largely discounted one, as it negotiates through various car rental suppliers at the same time. In a world where market is governed by the need to survive through fierce competition, each company tries to provide the best possible deal to be in business. Thus, the consumer stands to benefit.

All a traveler needs to do is go to a car rental website and search the engine for the bookings. Once he fills in his details comprising of his personal details along with preferred car type, driver’s age and preferred location, the engine makes a booking for him and provides him with a confirmation number. This number is his proof of rental once he alights at the Coventry airport.

Coventry Airport Car Hire - Best rates, low cost, no hidden costs.

Article Source: Coventry Airport Car Hire - Practical Tips For Hiring Cheap

Fire is a devastating and unplanned incident, and some personal belongings may be irreplaceable, if you have no safe security services. Birth Certificates, Laptops, and data could be destroyed, and proof of valuables could be eliminated, making insurance claims hard to prove. Proving your identity is easiest when birth certificates can be used to obtain passports, identification, and access to banking and credit card accounts in a short amount.
What will you do if they are destroyed in a fire?

Because identity theft is such a world-wide problem, with bank and credit card theft, drug dealer and terrorist activity, it can be hard to prove your own identity and your families, if fire destroys proof that you are who you claim, and you do not have documentation to back it up. It used to be if you knew certain personal identification information and numbers, you could get replacement identification. Now though due to terrorist activity across the world, it can take days, weeks and even months to replace the information, to gain access to your own money and replace credit cards, if all documentation and currency is destroyed in a fire. All this just because you were not protected with your own personal safe security services.

If you own a business, and keep your records at home, it can double the agony of proving identity, rebuilding personal documents and trying to rebuild and prove business ownership and try to rebuild necessary business documentation, if you had no safe security services.

There are many in-home and business personal safes available, with varying degrees of security from fire. Normally UL rated by the amount of time the interior of the safe stays at 350 degrees in an external temperature fire of 1700 degrees or more. Personal in-home safes and business safes have become more sophisticated to offer more protection. A fire can be devastating enough, but imagine the peace of mind knowing that your safe was superior rated for fire protection. That your identity, currency and important documents are still safe inside while everything else may have been destroyed.

Safes are also rated by the amount of currency that they hold and increasing security and safety measures built to increase as currency levels increase. Therefore it is possible to maintain the security of your important identity documents and emergency currency with the installation of a personal safe that is secure and can bring you peace of mind in the event your home is destroyed by fire.

Safes can be installed into concrete floors, and since fire will not destroy concrete, it also offers added insulation from heat for your valuables. Many safes are also made to protect Laptop computers and you may store all of your personal insurance value information onto the computer. The best way to keep your valuables safe is by installing a personal safe. A fire can be very devastating, but wouldn’t it be nice to know that your identity and that emergency cash is safe and ready to help you rebuild your life until the insurance money comes.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of UK businesses. For Fire Protection Safes, he recommends Safe Security Services.

Article Source: Rebuilding your Own Identity after Fire

You have been sailing along your career path happy as a clam. Your career is in good shape. Promotions have been coming right on schedule. You are feeling good about your prospects for reaching your career goals.

Suddenly, you hit turbulence on your career path. Advancements seem to be few and far between. You continue to do good work, but nobody appears to notice. One or two of your peers, no more capable than you, are getting ahead of you.

The job that once was so much fun is now drudgery. Malaise is the order of every day.

It is becoming crystal clear that the road to the corner office is getting narrower. There is not going to be room for everyone. You begin to wonder if you will be able to achieve your goals … on schedule or at all.

What’s happening? You are hitting the mid-career crisis.

Don’t panic. It happens to almost every one.

This trauma can occur at any age, but it most frequently takes place at about the time of that dreaded 40th birthday.

“Forty is definitely more significant than any other age,” says Christopher Stack, executive vice president of a New York executive search firm. He believes most of the significance is self-imposed.

“At 30, you’re too young and at 50 too well established – hopefully – to feel that pressure,” Stack declares.
In his book, The Corporate Steeplechase, Dr. Srully Blotnick says “the forties is the most dangerous decade for people in business … (people) in their forties are straddling, for the last time, the gap between promise and fulfillment.”

So what can you do about this threat to your peace of mind, your career success and your family life?

The first thing is to realize that the mid-career crisis is real and it is tough. It can be devastating if not dealt with in a pro-active way.

“When people reach a career crisis … very often it’s because they’re just plain tired of the treadmill,” according to Carolyn Smith Paschal, an executive recruiter from California. “At that age, people have been through a lot of struggles – getting through college, negotiating the early years of a job and a marriage, starting a family.”

Back off and put the situation in perspective.

You are probably entering a time when you will be at the peak of your ability and in a position to make your experience pay off.

You have already lived longer than Mozart, who had composed his great works before he died at age 35. Alexander the Great passed away at age 34, but not before he conquered Asia Minor. Steve Jobs had created the Apple computer dynasty and moved on to start another enterprise by the time he was 30.

But you are considerably younger than Churchill was when he led the Free World to victory in World War II. You still have a way to go before you reach the age when Henry Ford hit pay dirt with his Model T. When he was nearly 40, James Michener, author of scores of books, including Tales of the South Pacific, was told that if he had not written a book by age 35, chances were he never would.

The fact is, at 40 you are less than half way through your career.

You Do Not Have To Become Obsolete.

Recognize that you do not have to become obsolete. You can avoid this trap if you choose to work hard enough to accept and learn new ways of doing things.

Start by kicking yourself in the backside the first time you oppose a new order of things because “that’s not the way we have always done it.”

A change of duties frequently helps. Recognizing this, many companies are deliberately shifting people at the mid-career point to different jobs. Others are granting longer vacations and sabbaticals, instead of bonuses.

If your employer offers you a chance for new duties, take it. After all, the risks associated with a new challenge are not greater than continuing to butt your head against the glass wall.

If a change is not possible, renew your efforts to find the advantages in what you are doing.

Come to terms with reality. Not everyone is going to win the race.

Consider other options. How can you be happy where you are? Can you enjoy your career goals you have atttained? What about continuing to work hard enough to maintain your current position relative to the rest of the world and to earn your pay? Do you really want or need to be king of the mountain to enjoy career success?

For free career coaching click here: http://www.commonsenseatwork.com. You’ll receive The Career Accelerator, Ramon Greenwood’s semi-monthly newsletter. You can also visit his Your Blog For Career Advice via this route. Greenwood’s coaching comes from a world of experience, including serving as Senior Vice President of American Express, an entrepreneur, professional director, career coach and author.

Article Source: Career Advice: Are You Trapped In A Mid-Life Crisis?

The worth of online privacy policies

People who use the Internet are gradually becoming conscious about the online threats like hackers and spammers. These malicious people make wrong use of others personal information. The Online shoppers are the people who suffer the most. Therefore, more and more people are opting for sites that have professional customer privacy policies.

As a matter of fact, an online business owner needs to ensure peace of mind for his customers. If the clients find his website to be unsafe they would not hesitate to move to a different site quickly. That will result in loss of revenue for the site owner in the end. The sites that require children below 13 years to divulge their personal information need to conform to the privacy policy guidelines as mentioned in the COPPA act. Similarly, if a site owner wants his site to pass the eligibility test of Google’s AdSense, he must have a suitable and Professional Privacy Policy.

However, a site owner needs to keep in mind that a proper client privacy policy’s scope extends far beyond the declaration that he is committed to keep people’s private data from getting circulated to others. For making his Website Privacy Policy really effective a site owner requires to abide by certain guidelines.

It would be a good idea for a web site owner to go through the present laws concerning privacy policy. Several aspects of policy making such as the method of data storage, data type etc needs to be considered prior to making the draft of the policy. There are certain sites that employ cookies for tracking the personal information of the site viewers.

A site owner should have adequate knowledge regarding the laws for making online privacy policy for his site. If a person has a site that deals with health care and insurance his consumer privacy policy must abide by some particular privacy rules. In any case, a site owner should be transparent to the clients regarding the reason he is collecting their personal information. He should also describe the ways that are used to collect that type of information.

If a site owner is not confident on his skill in making a web based privacy policy he can resort to the services of a veteran and professional attorney. The web has a number of sites that give beneficial tips on making effective Sample Privacy Policy. After making a draft one can get it checked by the lawyer. Some companies are there that include their employees in the privacy policies.

However, generating a privacy policy is not enough. A site owner needs to execute the tasks mentioned in his consumer privacy guidelines under all circumstances. This will ensure that the privacy policy is compliant with the rules introduced by COPPA and Google. For more information, one can browse the site professionalprivacypolicy.com

Garrett Pierson is author of this article on Privacy Policy Generator.
Find more information about Sample Privacy Policy here.

Article Source: The significance of Website privacy policies

Burglars break into more than 760,000 British homes each year. Other countries suffer a similar level of such crimes. For the householders, burglary is one of the most traumatic of crimes. Though your empty property may be out of sight, its security will never be far out of mind. Fortunately, there are some sensible precautions you can take to increase both your home security and your peace of mind.

The biggest risk factors for domestic burglary are poor security and low levels of occupancy. Victims of burglary are less likely to have security measures in place at the time of the incident than non-victims. Security is effective in thwarting at least some offenders.

Burglars want an easy, risk free life, and do not want to get caught. They avoid getting caught by taking care to select the right home to break into. A pile of mail gathering behind the glass of the front door, a cluster of milk bottles on the doorstep, or a newspaper sticking out of the letterbox, are some of the signs they look for. Couple these with an overgrown garden, curtains that never close, and rooms in perpetual darkness and you might as well invite them to break in.

The burglar first identifies the quickest, easiest and safest route into your home. In most burglaries, he targets a door, by forcing a door lock or breaking a door panel. At other times he gets in through a window. In over a fifth of cases he simply walks in through an unlocked door.

If you value your possessions, you will have five-lever mortise deadlocks, fitted on both front and back doors. You will have an automatic deadlock, that can be locked from the outside, fitted on the front door. You may also have fitted laminated glass to doors, and key- operated window locks on every window.

With millions spent on persuading householders to fit good quality locks on doors and windows, getting back out should present the burglar with as big a problem as getting in. Unfortunately many people leave spare keys lying around inside the house.

All too often, the police attend the scene of a burglary to find that the burglar, who has struggled to squeeze in through a small window, has calmly walked out through the door. The door will often have a key in the lock, “in case there’s a fire”, or a simple latch lock that was lazily pulled to behind the busy householder. Occasionally, the unwitting occupant even provides the burglar with a getaway car in the drive and the car keys on the kitchen table.

Your empty property should always look occupied. Deliveries should be cancelled, and a trusted neighbour available to take in those that you cannot cancel. If there are no neighbours, family or friends available, you can make alternative arrangements for your mail through the local post office.

A family member, a friend or a neighbour may even be prepared to call in to the house each evening and morning to close and open the curtains. The lights can look after themselves, if you invest in a time switch or two. If you are leaving a house unoccupied for an extended period, an alternative to this informal caretaker arrangement is a house- sitter.

House-sitters not only make sure that your house is safe, but they also have the added advantage of looking after the garden, the houseplants and even pets. An agency will put you in touch with responsible people, both singles and couples, who will look after your property while you are away. As both the householder and the house-sitter benefit from the arrangement, a typical house-sitting arrangement comes without payment.

Having made sure that your house looks occupied, do not compromise your security by advertising the fact that you are going away. Not everyone standing amongst the crowds at the airport or station is a passenger. Display your home address on your luggage labels and you provide valuable intelligence for the more professional criminal. If you must put an address on your luggage, make sure it’s your work address, not your home address.

A small safe is an ideal place to secure your house and car keys, your smaller valuables and jewellery, and those irreplaceable items like marriage certificates, cherished mementoes and personal papers. Make sure the safe is proof against fire and flood, too, for added peace of mind.

Technology now provides the means to enhance household security to a level that will deter even the most determined burglar. Alarm systems vary in sophistication and in price. Some are simple stand- alone systems designed to draw attention. Others have multiple sensors and can be remotely monitored.

Regrettably, surrounded by car and house alarms, an indifferent public will often ignore the sound of an alarm. A more effective system is a monitored alarm. Once triggered, these systems alert a monitoring company who can call the police. These systems are more expensive than a stand- alone system, but give greater protection.

You do not have to go to the expense of paying for a remote monitoring system, as there are ways you can remotely monitor your house yourself for continual peace of mind. Some alarm systems can be programmed to telephone an alert to a friend or neighbour, who can then check on the premises and call the police and you if necessary.

If you have no one to keep an eye on the house you can install a remotely monitored closed circuit television system. With the development of computer technology, the Internet, and Cyber Café’s, remote monitoring has become easier than ever. Systems are now available that offer simple installation and maintenance, and are ideal for home security.

The local police will be happy to point out weaknesses in your defences that you may well have overlooked. You should also inform your local police station if you are away from home for any length of time. The police will keep a discrete eye on your property, and will at least know who to contact if anything does happen. The local police station is also a good source of up-to- date crime prevention literature if you don’t have access to the Internet.

Encouragingly, recent surveys show that the number of burglaries is falling, while the numbers of households investing in home security is increasing. With the average cost of a burglary amounting to around £1400, a modest investment in security could prove very cost effective, and will at least give you the peace of mind to really enjoy your time away from home.

www.richalmers.com is a great site for information about a wide variety of subjects, including crime prevention advice. Not surprising as it has been created by a former police officer.

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Article Source: Keep Your Home Safe While You Are Away

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