Be aware of who you’re buying a burglar alarm from. One of the problems with home security companies is there are a substantial number of fly by night security agencies popping up. There is very little legislative control over alarm systems.

Police agencies are planning to lobby the government to set up some legislative guidelines regarding the companies who sell the equipment, but in the meantime, it remains a buyer beware market.

Find out if they’re reputable. A lot of them look in the papers to see what homes have been broken into, then they contact the owners to see if they want to buy a home security system.

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Here are some must-know home security tips that will considerably reduce your chance of being burglarized:

• Never leave cash, valuable jewelry or art objects in the house when you go on holiday. Tuck all valuables away in your safety deposit box.

• Never hide a key anywhere. Even amateur thieves will look under a doormat, a flower pot or in a mailbox for a key.

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While a home security system is the best form of protection when dealing with home burglaries, here are some additional tips to secure a home.

Homeowners need to quit making it easy for a burglar. The best way to do that is by making a complete check of your house and outside property to determine where a burglar could enter. Doors and windows in most homes won’t stop a determined burglar.

Some things to protect your home include:

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There’s a relatively new home security system which offers a personal greeting to the intruding burglar. “Attention, this is alarm central station,” a live voice booms over a phone speaker. “Please identify yourself immediately. Police have been dispatched!”

This live-voice home security technology has been developed because burglars are learning to ignore regular mechanical alarms.

This wireless, portable security system lets operators at a security monitoring centre speak directly to the homeowner, or burglar, through an automatically triggered intercom system.

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How to conduct a home security survey:

1. Check your home, keeping in mind how you would break in. Why would you choose this home if you were a burglar.

2. When burglar-proofing your home, keep in mind fire safety. You should install smoke detectors and have fire extinguishers ready to use.

3. Trim shrubbery below window level. If shrubbery conceals a good lock, the lock becomes ineffective.

4. High fences can be good privacy, but can also provide good concealment for the burglar. Keep pad locks on gates.

5. House numbers should be placed on the front and back of the house. This aids in emergency response.

6. Lighting properly displayed can be a great deterrent to a would-be burglar. You want lighting to come down on what your are trying to light up, such as a light on a pole in an alley.

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