Home security is nothing to play around with. For the safety of your
family and all your belongings, you need to secure your home using any
means necessary. If you¡¯ve ever seen the movie <A
href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099785/">Home Alone</a>, you know
it¡¯s possible to get creative with your security. While you don¡¯t need
to hang paint buckets from rope, you can do a few other things to
tighten the security on your home.

<h2>Change Your Locks</h2>

One of the easiest ways for someone to break into your home is to go
right through the front door with a key or passcode. When you buy a
home, keys are handed over to you at the closing. Do you really know
who else has a copy of the keys? It¡¯s best to change the locks as soon
as you move in.

<P>

After you¡¯ve ended a relationship or gotten rid of a roommate, it¡¯s a
good idea to change the locks as well. Even if they handed back the
key, you can never be too sure if they made a copy or not. It¡¯s not
expensive to have a locksmith come out and change the locks, so go
ahead and make the call. If you have a home security system make sure
you update the security code.  If you are still shopping for a good
home security provider, check out different websites and local
providers to get the <A href="http://homesecurity911.com/adt/">best deals on ADT</a>.

<h2>Put a Spare Key on the Dog</h2>

The spare key sitting under the planter or under the welcome mat is
going to be discovered easily. These are the areas that burglars look
first. Instead, some have suggested putting the key on your dog¡¯s
collar. You could attach it next to their ID tag or tape it to the
underside of the collar. Of course you would want to attach it to the
least friendly dog you have. You can get the key when your dog is
outdoors or they can come through the pet door when you call their
name.  Personally, I don't recommend this approach since collars (or
animals) sometimes come loose, and do you really want your key in the
hands of the dog catcher?

<h2>Avoid Rooms with a View</h2>

Go outside and stand out by the street or the sidewalk. What can
people see through your windows? You will want to move anything of
value so it¡¯s not visible from the road. This includes your TV,
computers and any other electronics. If there is art or anything else,
you may want to consider moving it. If you can¡¯t move the valuable
items, be sure to keep your blinds closed.

<P>
If you can see things from the windows, so can anyone else. You don¡¯t want to give people a reason to rob you.

<h2>Add Lights</h2>

You need to have a motion sensor light to come on when you¡¯re home or
not. This way the lights will come on automatically and (hopefully)
deter anyone who is approaching your home. If you¡¯re not going to be
home for a few days, set timers on your lights. Place them in a few
different rooms and use them naturally. This way the house looks
occupied.

<h2>Get to Know Your Neighbors</h2>

Your neighbors, especially the nosy ones and the ones that like to
gossip, are the ones to get to know. They can tell you who has been
slinking around the neighborhood and if there¡¯s been anyone looking
into your windows when you¡¯re not home. If you hear about any
suspicious activity, you can prepare your home more effectively.

<P>

Get creative with your home security and you¡¯ll be able to deter more people from breaking in.