One of the biggest concerns for people with children is establishing a sense of security and safety for the family. Whether you want to have a gun license, install a fence or buy a dog, you have several options. Read this article for ideas on ways to protect your family.

Look for ways to make your home seem occupied. Keep your radio, TV and lights on timers. This will make your home appear as if someone is there. This is a simple way to give people up to no good think that you are home.

Do you keep your dog outside if you leave the home? They may provide you with a useful place to hide your key. Simply put the key onto your dog’s collar so that robbers cannot locate it. Your dog is an especially good key hiding spot if he doesn’t react well to strangers, since they won’t approach him, but the key will be there if you need it.

Don’t let strangers into your home. Burglars have many clever ways to convince householders to open the door. Create a rule where you only allow those you’ve invited to your home inside.

Make sure that your home security system has a backup power source. Many burglars cut wires inside home security systems before entering a home. If you have a backup source, the alarm will continue to work as it should. It may be more expensive to install this type of system, but it will be worth it.

Install motion sensing lights. Darkness is a potential thief’s best friend. Make sure all potential entrances to your home are covered by a motion sensing light. These lights will turn on automatically when movement triggers them, making it difficult for anyone to sneak around your property. Thieves will quickly move on to an easier target.

Do not list your full name in the phone book or on your mail box. This can give possible intruders a lot of information about you and allow them break into your home a lot easier. Instead, only list your last name and possibly your first initial, this is much safer.

If your front door does not have a peephole, it is wise to have one installed. Peepholes allow you to see who’s at your front door before you open it. Some home owners choose to have two peepholes installed to allow for difference in height of those that live in the home.

If you have valuables, and you need a place to store them, look no further than the walls of your home. In between the studs is a lot of empty space, and you can easily store jewelry or anything else you don’t want a burglar to have access to. Simply install a fake electrical outlet, and use it to take things in and out of the wall.

You should change the locks to your new home as soon as you buy it. Even if the owner tells you that you have all of the keys, there may be a chance this is not true. You don’t want to take the chance that some unknown person will have access to your home.

Pretend you are a burglar. By taking on the role of an intruder, you can check for vulnerable areas around your property. Really think hard about ways you would get into your home if you were a criminal. Check the garage as well as sheds or other places you keep valuable possessions.

How much space do you have between your door and its frame? Having too much room here is like an open invitation for a burglar to use some sort of jimmy to get inside your home. You can reinforce your door with a thin piece of plywood or sheet metal.

Do not do any landscaping that will obscure the entrances of your home. While you may think it is a good idea to plant a huge rosebush in front of your living room windows, this gives a thief a place to hide while they figure out a way to get into your home.

As silly as it may seem, stop having newspapers delivered if you are going on vacation. Intruders will see all of the papers piling up and will realize that no one is home, making it more likely for them to break in. Call the delivery company and tell them when you will come back and when you want them to start delivering again.

Instead of hoping or assuming that nothing bad will happen to you or your family, take steps to protect everyone. You don’t have to install an expensive home security system to accomplish this. Remember the tips in this article so you can find a way to deter intruders from entering your home.

How To Keep Your House Safe was originally published on Spring