Here are some basic tips for people trying to make their home and possessions more secure.

The first step is installing quality locks on all exterior doors to the home. The best choice is a deadbolt, but although some deadbolts might look strong, they may still not withstand an effort to break in. A homeowner is best advised to contact the police or a locksmith about what type of deadbolt is best.

Secondly, the homeowner should ensure the home is equipped with solid doors. Hollow core doors are easily broken through. Instead, entrance doors should be steel clad or solid core.

Thirdly, consider installing window bars, especially on basement windows commonly accessed in break-ins. The number of people installing window bars is increasing, but too often, homeowners only react after their first break-in has occurred.

Fourthly, homeowners should consider installing a home security system. The added protection might be worth the expense if the home is filled with valuables. Home security alarms may include heat and motion detectors, door contacts and glass detectors.

A safe can be installed in the home to protect jewelry and other valuables. Small safes or deposit boxes should be cemented and bolted to the wall or floor.

People should take special security precautions if they plan to be away from their homes for several days. Leaving lights on, having a neighbor put out the garbage cans on the appropriate day and arranging to have someone pick up daily mail could help keep potential break-ins from happening while the home is unoccupied.

If the home will be empty for extended periods, the homeowner in a small community could notify the police who can usually include the home on the night’s checklist.

People need to develop a habit of always locking up. A habit of leaving a spare key under the door mat needs to be broken.

It is also a good idea to mark valuables with invisible ink or an engraving pencil. The valuables should be marked with a number unique to the owner – a social insurance or driver’s license number can be used.

But a growing rate of burglaries, which now account for nearly 35 percent of all the crimes recorded in the United States, along with fires, has changed the minds of owners of homes both lavish and modest, career-minded families who spend long hours away from home and even senior citizens who worry about being unprotected.

Home security has come a long way in recent years, both in options and prices. Microchip technology has made the newest home security systems even more reliable than that most lovable and popular of home alarms – the big, barking canine and accompanying “Beware of Dog” sign.

Most home security systems are built upon combinations of two-key devices: perimeter and interior alarm systems. The burglar who triggers an alarm by breaking a window or opening a door becomes a victim of a home’s perimeter security system, made up of small sensors attached by wire to a central control panel. When he disturbs one of these sensors on a door or window, a signal is sent to a central control panel, which in turn signals action.

The prowler who makes it inside a house can signal an alarm with movement, sound or merely his presence. These interior systems, which include infrared, microwave and ultrasound space protection units, also alert a central control panel once they detect change in their realm. Once signaled with either type of system, the control console can transmit a signal to sound an alarm or alert authorities at a professional monitoring station who will check out the situation.

There also are automatic telephone dialing devices that will dial a preprogrammed telephone number and deliver a prerecorded emergency message when an alarm is tripped.

A home security system combining both perimeter and interior devices could include sensors for front and back doors and bedroom windows, an interior unit strategically placed around an area that needs extra protection and central control panel and alarm.

“Smart home” systems take home security into the future with alarms that interact with one another and actually “decide” what to do when an intruder is detected. One system, for instance, will identify an entry from a door or window by location when no one should be home and automatically call police. Another lets the home owner decide who can enter his house in his absence and dictates when a guest can come in and where they can go.

Smoke detectors and alarms could be considered another type of security system – since they warn home owners of potential fire, which have, the potential of being even more devastating than a burglary. Smoke detectors rely on sensors similar to those used in security systems; many can be incorporated into these systems for all inclusive protection.

The most sophisticated systems boast improved features such as extra-loud horns that can alert hearing-impaired individuals and the heaviest sleepers and high-intensity safety lights that can mark exits and hallways in heavy smoke.

There are also false alarm control models that prevent harmless steam or kitchen stove smoke from setting off the alarm. The most security-savvy home owner, who would hire his own guard if he could afford it, may also choose to reinforce home security with TV cameras that offer him a bird’s-eye view of areas around his house via a surveillance screen.

A less costly alternative would be an intercom system – that allows him to speak to questionable parties at the front and back doors before letting them in.

Other high-tech precautionary home security devices devices center around the control of a home’s lights – one of the simplest and most effective deterrents around. One illuminating idea is found in security timers – designed to fool potential prowlers into thinking someone is home when a house actually is empty. These timers automatically turn indoor and outdoor lights on and off at designated times of the day.

Another version is an outdoor lighting system that’s equipped with infrared sensors. The lights automatically turn on when someone approaches a house, and hopefully send potential prowlers scurrying.

Basic home improvements aren’t quite as glamorous as high-tech additions, but are invaluable in terms of protection. Home owners can improve their fortresses by making simple, inexpensive changes. A few ideas include:

• Replacing flimsy, hollow doors with solid-core construction models on exterior exists.

• Securing doors leading outside with single or double cylinder dead-bolt locks.

• Installing peep holes that offer a wide-angle view of the area outside the door.

• Adding thumb-keyed slide bolt locks on windows.

• Planting “security shrubbery.” Thorny plants that will make hiding or entering a window more difficult.

Home owners can hide valuables such as jewelry, coins and documents in a home safe for extra protection. Even the best-armed homes should be backed up with adequate home owners insurance. The best policies command an adequate combination of liability – which protects the home owner if an accident occurs on his property, or he causes damage to someone else’s house – and property – which covers the house itself.

Some require only an investment of a few dollars and can be put in place by a do-it-yourselfer while others cost thousands of dollars and require professional installation.

At the low-cost end of the spectrum, you’ll find heavy-duty locks for windows and doors to beef up security, peepholes for peering at unknown visitors, motion-sensitive floodlights that flash on when someone comes too close and battery- powered motion alarms that protect a single door or window.

More elaborate home security systems lie in the new generation of battery-powered central alarms. Homeowners begin with a starter kit that includes a control center and several doors and window sensors, then purchase additional sensors as needed.

Those willing to make a sizable investment can enter a world of high-tech protection that offers the ultimate in home security. These professionally installed home security devices are based on ultrasonic motion devices, closed-circuit video systems, infrared technology, microwaves and combination units, and usually are tied to telephone systems that will phone police or a private security monitoring company when trouble comes calling.

Many also can be programmed to alert homeowners to other problems, such as fire, furnace failure, freezing dangers and water leaks, or to phone for help in the case of a medical emergency.

Secure your doors. Burglars are used to forced entry. They will kick your doors to get in. You can’t give them the chance to enter your house or at least give them some hard time in invading your doorsteps! Use one-inch-long quality deadbolt lock and metal box strike in your metal doors. Using a high quality, durable, knob-in-lock with a built in dead-latch mechanism. You can install a 160 degrees peephole. But if you’re using sliding-glass patio doors secured by latches which make them more vulnerable to forced entry, you can insert a wooden rod or stick to put off or limit movement. You must also keep the latch mechanism as well as the sliding rollers in good state and they must be properly adjusted. Alarm systems and dogs are also advisable for sliding glass doors to keep burglars away.

Avoid accessible windows. These windows that can be easily accessed through a stairway, tree, or fence, should be secured with secondary blocking devices. You must also ensure that no one will reach the window to remove the installed blocking device. To hinder the window from being lifted up, you may want to use anti-lift devices. If you’ve got window air conditioners, you can secure them by using sturdy screws through wood or metal framing to prevent burglars from pushing them in.

Wise landscape gardening also aids in preventing burglars from entering your residence. Trim tall plants that can cover burglars and tree branches that can act as easy access route to windows and roof. Interior and exterior lighting are both essential for home security. Install lights near doors, windows, blind spots and pathways. You can also use interior light timers to show signs of occupancy. Exterior lights must allow 100-feet visibility.

Alarm systems have been proven effective in promoting home security. They are an effective method to discourage burglars because they increase the fear of getting caught red handed and arrested. In order for an alarm system to be effective, it must be properly installed and maintained. They must have a built in audible horn or bell. Your alarm response call list should always be up to date. You must also befriend your neighbors so you’ll be able to teach them how to respond when the alarm bells. Repeat that. You must befriend your neighbors. Invite them in your home. Do things you mutually like. Keep the communications open to establish trust. You will never know how they may help you when burglars get in. Hope these helps in keeping you at peace when you’re out of the house or you’re sleeping soundly at night.

You can protect your home by taking precautions. Technological advances make the newest alarm systems more reliable and efficient than those on the market just a few years ago. The motion detectors are much more stable, control panels have a lot more options. Today we’ve got a little mini-computer looking at what’s going on in front of it, and all central processing units have microprocessors.

When shopping for home security, where does a homeowner begin? A good starting point is to take a pad and pencil and walk around the home, noting all possible entrances and which ones can easily be opened from the outside. The next steps might include a trip to the hardware store, a visit with neighbors and, eventually, a home visit with a security professional.

Start with the doors. Each should have a deadbolt lock of at least 2 or 3 inches long. Check the door jambs to be sure they fit correctly. Make sure the door hinges are on the inside of the house, not the outside. Doors should have a solid core, not a hollow one. And don’t neglect back or side doors – they are a more common target than front doors. All windows should have locks as well.

Homeowners should get to know their immediate neighbors and keep in regular contact with them, so neighbors will be able to spot suspicious activity. One of the best ways to get to know your neighbors is to form a Neighborhood Watch group. Neighborhood Watch is people watching out for other people.

Homeowners today must take precautions in establishing strong security protection in and around the home. The key is to make your house key the only way to enter your home. To prevent burglars from doing their job, take seriously the security of your house. The following checklist will help you determine whether your home is safe.

1. Is your house fairly isolated, far from neighbors, or hidden by bushes and not easily visible to neighbors?

Many families pay for their privacy with an open invitation to burglars. Shrubbery near doors and windows is a perfect hiding place for burglars. If your house is isolated and not visible to neighbors, take special precautions. Keep shrubs well trimmed, and make sure your doors and windows are secure. Use lights, good locks, strong doors and, best of all, an electronic home security system monitored by the security company.

2. Does your home have exterior lighting?

A well-lit home is one of the best ways to protect your home. Lights won’t keep thieves out, but they will make it easier for neighbors to stop a prowler.

3. Do you leave an inside light on while away from home?

Many people arrange for a neighbor to check their home and turn lights on or off while they’re away for any length of time. Even better, some security systems can turn selected lights on and off automatically so it always looks like someone’s home.

4. Do you have an attached garage?

Unattached garages are safer than attached garages. They don’t provide a sheltered access to the main house for a burglar. But the door between your attached garage and your home can be protected with a home security system.

5. Are you aware of burglaries or incidents of vandalism in your neighborhood?

The safest neighborhoods, of course, are those that never have home invasions. But even in these havens, there’s no guarantee they’ll be crime-free forever. Don’t wait until crime hits your neighborhood before taking any precautions.

6. What are your doors made from?

Metal doors are best, but heavy, solid wooden doore are still good. If you have light, hollow wooden doors on any outside doors, it would be a good idea to replace them.

7. Do any of your doors have windows in them?

Windows and doors are anything but a safe combination. They can give burglars clues to whether or not you’re home. And they’re an easy access to your door locks. An electronic security system will notify you and the police if the windows or doors are opened in an attempted burglary.

8. What kind of locks do you have on your doors?

There is no lock that can’t be picked, but deadbolts give a higher degree of protection than spring locks, which can be opened in seconds.

9. How many locks do you have on your windows?

Standard window locks are far too easy to open. A second lock, made especially for windows, will add more protection.

10. Have you ever left keys outside your home?

Any hiding place you can think of, a burglar can think of, too. Leaving keys with a trusted neighbors is better.

11. Do you ever leave your doors or windows open when running an errand, working in the yard or sleeping?

Open windows and doors are a security risk, but no one wants to keep the house closed up all the time. With many security systems, you can enjoy the fresh air of open door or window while still protecting other entrances.

12. When away from home for extended periods of time, do you arrange to have a trusted neighbor look after your home and pick up mail and newspapers?

Overflowing mailboxes and piles of newspapers are a signal that the homeowners are away. Arrange with a trusted neighbors to have your mail and newspapers picked up regularly to create the appearance that the residents are around. If this doesn’t work for you, have the post office and newspaper discontinue the service until you return.

It’s always wise to stay alert to developments in the home security market. Read home magazines and attend home products shows for information on the latest products and services.

When thinking of home security, most families focus their efforts on the front door, but today’s burglar looks for alternative entrances such as patio doors and windows.

Homeowners today need to have products that include safety features. There are basic protection measures a homeowner can take, such as making sure windows and doors have advanced locking systems.

Homeowners should look for patio doors that feature multi-point locking systems. One of the better options available is a lock that secures the door to the top, side and threshold of the door frame with the flip of a single lever. With this locking system, some doors can withstand more than 1,000 pounds of force.

Also, homeowners are advised to opt for sophisticated casement window options. A convenient to operate window is one that will lock at tow points when a single locking lever is activated. In addition to providing added security, these systems help prevent wind drafts, water leakage and warpage from uneven pressure on the window or door frame.

People who have security concerns should take a look at the options and consider what features best meet their needs and the style of their home.

Well lets start with the basement windows. It’s the No. 1 way crooks enter homes. Often they’re only held together with very light nylon clips which can easily be broken, especially in the winter time when they become brittle. They may not be pretty but bars are your best bet.

Choosing locks for doors is crucial. Basically there are two types – the deadbolt and the locking knob set. The locking knob set, which locks with a twist of the door knob, is convenient and easy to install. It’s also easy pickings for burglars. With little effort, the latch can be pushed out of its strike with a credit card.

As well, the latch only extends into the door frame about 1.2 centimeters. If somebody wants to they can pry that door away from the frame far enough so that it will let go (the latch). That’s why deadbolt locks – with a standard throw of 2.5 centimeters – are the way to go.

It’s a little difficult to spread a door and a frame an inch, adding that once in the extended position, the bolt can’t slide back. And if you’ve just purchased a home – changing the locks is a good idea. You don’t know who’s got keys and it might be somebody who might have ideas about coming back.

Patio Doors

Patio doors should also be secured. You can buy an adjustable rod that keeps the closed door from being slid back. If you’re short on cash, jamming a two by four along the open track when the window is closed will do just as well. Another inexpensive but effective measure is to take a couple of washers on screws and screw them into the top track – a half-metre apart – so thieves can’t pop the door out. What that’ll do is take up the distance that the door can be lifted and actually taken out of the track.

Standard systems look after doors and basement windows, but there’s plenty of extras you can tack on to trigger your alarm. For example, perimeter systems protect all exterior glass. Acoustic glass break detectors work much like a microphone and are triggered by sound. They are fine-tuned, allowing them to distinguish between a breaking pane of glass and a breaking beer bottle. They’re almost immune to false alarms. Only one is required per room and it has a radius of 12 meters. If you have a family room/kitchen area with 30 windows one device will cover them all. It’s very economical.

If you’re looking to protect just one window, a window shock sensor is the practical choice. It’s a device that is triggered by the vibration of breaking glass. Some of the other benefits of both home security systems are:

• They can be kept on while the occupants are in the home.

• If someone tries to gain entry, the alarm is triggered while the burglar is still outside of the home.

• The alarms are pet compatible (unlike motion detectors)

Another home security product lets you turn up the heat on burglars by turning on the smoke. The product is called Smoke Cloak. As soon as the premises are broken into a fog-like white smoke is disbursed. Someone could be only two feet away and you would not see them. The smoke, however, is non-toxic and completely harmless to people and property. The smoke is produced by a generator about the size of an office water cooler. Inside a glycol-based liquid is converted to fine smoke by a heating block and expelled at high pressure. The process takes only seconds. The generator can be mounted in a basement, and smoke can be delivered to every room in the house through ducts by vacuum tubing.

Another wrinkle in the home security game is the Long Range Radio Network. It serves as a backup if thieves cut phone lines. Without phone lines, the alarm could be tripped but has no way of relaying that message to the monitoring company. If phone lines are cut or if somebody breaks into the house it will send both of those pieces of information in to the monitoring station. The device works much like a radio transmitter and also sends messages if there has been an AC or battery failure.

Also relatively new on the market is an audio verification system which allows the monitoring station to speak to and hear what is going on in the home after an alarm is tripped.

Personalized security codes for home alarm systems can monitor who came and went, and at what time. If kids don’t come home after school, there won’t be a code entered in the system and the parents can be contacted at work.

While the technology of home security is ever-changing, the concept remains the same. If someone wants to get into your house they’re coming in. The objective is to make it so difficult and time consuming for someone that they give up.

Here are some home security tips for those going away for a vacation:

• Get your neighbors involved. Let them know you’ll be away and ask for their help in collecting third-class (junk) mail and other doorstep litter.

• Have the post office halt delivery of your mail.

• Call your newspaper and have delivery suspended.

• Arrange to have someone mow your lawn.

• Never pull your drapes shut – it looks unnatural during the daytime and suggests your absence.

• Turn on a radio in the house and ensure the volume is loud enough to be heard just outside your door but isn’t so loud it bothers your neighbors.

• Never leave on a hall light to suggest your presence. Instead, turn on an upstairs bathroom or bedroom light. A burglar “casing” a neighborhood will assume when he knocks on your door that perhaps you failed to answer the door because you were upstairs and didn’t hear the knock.

• Consider putting lights on a timer so they go on and off at various times of day and night in your absence.

You should take this home security test to determine just how safe your home is:

• Do you mark your valuables with your driver’s license or identification number?

• Do you have an inventory list of serial numbers and descriptions of your valuables such as jewelry, televisions, stereos, appliances, etc.?

• Are all entrances (doors and windows) to your home well lighted?

• Is your landscaping trimmed so it does not conceal any part of your doors or windows?

• Are all exterior doors secured by a dead-bolt lock?

• Are all sliding glass doors and windows secured with key locking devices and pins to prevent removal?

• Do gates surrounding your yard have sturdy locks on them?

• Do you plan ahead so you do not have to leave a key under the mat or other obvious hiding places?

• Is there a peephole viewer on your front door?

• Are your interior lights, radios and televisions on timers to make it look like you are home when you are not?

Every “no” response to a question on this checklist points to a weakness in security that could improve a burglar’s ability to break in without being detected. By eliminating problem areas, you can greatly decrease the risk of being an easy target for a burglar and increase your home security.

It is important to remember that even by eliminating all risks, no home is burglar-proof. The object of the home security checklist is to reduce the risk of being burglarized by reducing easy opportunities.

How to secure your home from the outside

• Install good lighting on the ground to illuminate entrances and key yard areas.

• Trim tall bushes and shrubs in front of windows.

• Securely store ladders, equipment and bikes that can easily be stolen.

• Display your house number clearly.

• When you go away, leave shades, blinds and curtains in normal positions to create the impressions that someone is at home

How to secure exterior doors

• Install a wide-angle peephole.

• Install a full, one-inch deadbolt lock with hardened steel inserts and a reinforced strike plate with extra-long mounting screws.

• Make sure all exterior doors are metal or solid one-and-one-half-inch thick hardwood.

What to do before leaving for vacation

• Have the post office hold your mail, stop newspaper deliveries or ask a neighbor for help.

• Put some lights and a radio on timers to create the impression that someone is home.

• Alert neighbors that you will be away and ask that they keep an eye on your home in your absence.

These are just a few of the home security measures you can take to reduce your risk of becoming a crime victim. While there are no guarantees of safety, the more you know and do, the less your chances.