The top 5 ways to beef up your home security

If you watch the news, you’re probably concerned about the crime rate. The rate of home invasions and burglaries is especially alarming. Although there’s no one sure-fire way to guarantee that your home will never be targeted, there are many things you can do to improve your home security and make your house a less easy target for would-be intruders.

1. Invest in high-quality doors, door frames, windows, and locks. Criminals typically spend less than two minutes trying to gain entry to a house. In those two minutes, it’s very easy to kick in a cheap, poorly constructed door or break the lock on a flimsy window. It will cost you some money, but installing the best quality doors, windows, and locks you can afford could very well prevent a break-in.

2. Keep all doors and windows locked at all times, even when you are at home. The average burglar always tries the front door first. In fact, 34 percent of home break-ins happen after the intruder comes through the front door. If the door is unlocked, the burglar can simply walk right in and have a shopping spree in your house.

3. Never hide house keys outside. Even if you think that a burglar will never think to check inside the bird house, on top of the door frame, or inside the rose bush, you are wrong. It is their job to get into your house, and they probably do it very well. If you have trouble remembering your keys, think about getting a thumbprint lock or a keypad lock.

4. Upgrade your patio doors and install a security bar. Older patio doors typically have just one lock, and it’s not a very good one. New patio doors usually include two locks: a main lock on the handle and a bolt that locks it into the frame. Add a security bar for extra safety. This is a plain wooden or metal bar that wedges into the sliding door frame and prevents it from opening.

5. Install a dependable home security system. Yes, it will cost you some money every month. But is saving around a dollar a day really worth risking your family’s safety? ADT offers outstanding packages that you can customize to your needs. You can get the bare-bones package, or you can get the big package with all the bells and whistles. Either way, thieves will be deterred by the system, the monitoring center will let you know if there’s ever a problem in your home, and you can sleep better at night knowing they’re watching over you.

These tips are just the beginning of a well-rounded home security plan. There are plenty of other things you can and should do to protect yourself and your home. Unfortunately, there’s no magic potion to end crime and make the world completely safe. But by taking an active role in your home’s safety, you can make your corner of the world a much safer place to be.