Electronic Surveillance Equipment and Home Security

Utilizing home surveillance systems is the ultimate in property protection. There are arrays of other safety measures that will greatly bump up the security level of your home as well. Here are some crime prevention steps that you can take to protect your dwelling, property and family:

- Get to know your neighbors. Learn each other’s names, approximate work schedules, and the types of cars owned by each other. Keep a watch on each other’s property and report any suspicious vehicles or behavior. If you’re going out of town, ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your property and do the same for them.

- Keep large shrubbery trimmed in front of your home so that your property is viewable from the street. It’s easier to break into a home when there’s a handy bush to hide behind while prying open the front door.

- Piles of mail and unopened newspapers in front of your home are flag-waving messages to notify criminals that you’re out of town. Stop mail and newspaper delivery when you know that you’ll be away for several days. The postal service and newspaper circulation department will be happy to stop and start your service as a courtesy.

- Get a dog or put up a “Beware of Dog” sign. A real dog is an excellent natural alarm system to notify everyone of a potential intruder, not to mention their chasing and biting ability. If you can’t have a pet, the “Beware of Dog” signage will still be a handy deterrent.

- Upgrade your door locks. Dead bolts are an excellent blockade device; the newer locks are especially indestructible due to technological advances within the lock industry.

- Secure all windows with locking devices and use a metal rod in each window and sliding door track in order to add another level of protection.

- Put away valuables including jewelry, wallets and cash. That door-to-door salesman might be taking a peek and casing your home as he tries to sell you a magazine subscription. Keep valuables out of plain view.

- Install an alarm system that includes home surveillance systems as well as a monitoring agreement with a security company that alerts the fire and police departments of an emergency.

- Use those handy “this home is protected by XYZ Alarm Company” stickers and yard signs to alert any potential intruders of your functioning alarm system. The alarm system and equipment are highly effective but the stickers and yard signs help to advertise its existence.

You can make your abode appear to be an unattractive target to burglars. By bumping up protection with the above measures including home surveillance systems, the cruising criminals will probably head the other way.