During the next year one in four homes in the United States will be burglarized. Despite the threat of burglary, nine out of ten residences are not protected by home security systems.

Now that low-cost home security products are available, many homeowners are customizing and installing burglary prevention systems for their own specific needs. For less than $100, for example, a motion sensor can be installed to protect the perimeter of a home. The motion sensor detects the presence of heat in motion. When someone crosses its overlapping detection fields, the motion sensor instantly switches on an outdoor light to create the impression that someone is home, even when they aren’t.

Another interesting home security device also uses a motion sensor, but for a completely different purpose. When someone crosses the motion detection field, a signal is sent to an indoor alarm that begins barking to scare away potential intruders. The “barking dog security alarm system” retails for less than $60.

A number of home security companies install a wiring and motion sensor system, that when activated, is instantly monitored at the local monitoring headquarters, showing upon a computerized console. The cause of the alarm is determined, and a floor plan of the house pinpoints the exact location of the problem. Immediately, the proper authorities – police, fire department, or medical emergency assistance officials – are notified of the impending problem, and where it is actually taking place in the house.

The heightened awareness of crime, and even in-home safety concerns, such as poison control, and other medical reasons, has resulted in a spawning of various home security companies.

Choosing a security company to outfit your home is no different than choosing between any other retail store. Look for a company with a fine reputation, and a quality product that will suit your needs, and stay within a reasonable budget.

The notoriety of crime in the neighborhoods, and the formation of community associations to discourage crime, mean that home security systems are well on their way to becoming a standard fixture in every household, alongside the microwave oven and DVD player.

Darkened homes or businesses invite intruders and could lead to accidents. But well-chosen, strategically located home security lighting lighting can protect you from break-ins, enable you to get more use from outdoor areas, make your home or business more attractive and add to its value.

Here are some ideas about how to put home security lighting to work for you.

Start by taking a night-time stroll around your house or business. You should be able to clearly see your way from the street or the garage to your doors. Entrances should be bright enough for you to identify callers before you open the door. Potential hiding places on your property should be lighted. Photocell electric controls can be installed to automatically turn outdoor lights on at dusk, off at dawn.

Meanwhile, on the inside, you should make sure that stairs and hallways are properly lighted to help prevent falls. You can discourage intruders by using automatic controls to make your house appear to be occupied when you’re not there.

For example, use timers to simulate your normal usage patterns, turning living room lamps on at dusk and bedroom lamps on an hour or so before your normal bedtime. After determining where you need to add security lighting or to improve what you already have, you are ready to pick the types of lights and controls that best meet specific needs.

Here are the most common types of home security lighting:

• Incandescent: Advantages of incandescent lights include a wide choice of sizes and lighting fixture styles, low initial cost and instant on/off capability. The standard is 120 volts, but low-voltage (12 volt) systems are also available for pathway lights. A disadvantage is a relatively low efficiency rating.

• Fluorescent: More cost efficient than incandescent, fluorescent is somewhat more limited in choice and sizes and fixture styles.

• Mercury vapor: These have the advantage of a low purchase price. And they are good for outdoor use because they provide high light output. They affect color perception by accentuating blues and greens.

• Metal halide: As do mercury vapor lights, metal halides offer greater efficiency. Color characteristics are similar to those of incandescent light.

• High pressure sodium: Highly efficient with high light output, they are also good for outdoor use. They are available in a variety of sizes and have low installation cost. Sodium lamps also affect color perception by accentuating earth tones.

Lighting controls also play an important role in the safety and security of your home or business, and modern technology provides us with a number of choices when it comes to lighting controls.

• Programmable timers can be set to turn lamps on and off once or several times during each 24-hour period.

• Photocell units turn on lamps when natural light falls below a preset level.

• Motion sensors activate lights when someone crosses the path of a detector.

• Sound-activated units turn on lights in response to noise (their sensitivity level usually can be adjusted).

1. If there is need for emergency make sure your house number is clearly noticeable, so that an emergency service could find your house easily.
2. Make sure that all garage doors are locked after you have left the house
3. If there is a door which connects the garage to the house, it should be made of solid wood or metal and secured with a strong lock and dead bolt.
4. Let the garage, shed and property gates are fully secured after each use. If it is necessary, buy more secure locks.
5. Your garage door should be fitted with a strong security lock which is preferably secured to the floor
6. If you have expensive gardening equipment, such as lawn mowers, they should be locked away.
7. Get used to always locking your car door when you get back home at night.
8. If there are ladders in your garage, let them all be secured or locked away. Besides, don’t allow drain pipes be easily accessible to the upper floors.
9. In case you have locked yourself out, fix any weaknesses, which can make a burglar get easily inside.
10. Let the shrubs, trees and bushes are trimmed, so that a burglar couldn’t hide.
11. Leave any outdoor lighting switched on in the evening
12. It is safe to lock bicycles and motorbikes.
13. Make an installation of exterior security floodlighting that works with a motion sensor
14. Take into consideration security window bars if you think your windows could be smashed in order to gain access to your house.
15. Use a high security window lock to secure every window in the house
16. Check for rotting window frames and replace if there is need for it.
17. Never leave the doors unlocked even if you go out for a couple of minutes and especially at night.
18. Give extra keys to a neighbor you can rely on and never leave them under the front doormat or in a flowerpot.
19. Your external doors should be of solid hardwood or metal construction. Glass panels should be reinforced. Set a peephole to see who is at the door.
20. Let a deadbolt lock be set into the frame of the door.
21. Make sure you have emergency telephone numbers next to your telephone.
22. If you use interior timers for your lamps, it will leave the impression that someone is at home.
23. During your vacation, cancel any deliveries and papers
24. Keep firearms security locked in an appropriate firearms cupboard. This should be fitted with a trigger guard lock.
25. Keep all your valuables in a security safe or deposit them in a bank
26. Tell a trustworthy neighbor that you are going on holiday, so they can watch over your property.
27. Take digital photos of your possessions and valuables and transfer them to DVD. Put the DVD in a bank safety deposit box. Keep an up to date inventory of all of your staff.
28. Mark all valuable items, such as your computer, TV, Hi-Fi with a security code which is recognized by your local police.
29. Let the alarm be activated when you leaving your property.
30. Ensure that your whole family is aware of an evacuation procedure in case there is an emergency such as fire.