| Sometimes, the idea of sprucing up one's home, | | | | a huge step up from a ruler or yardstick at a |
| or making it safer, can seem like something | | | | fraction of the cost of more expensive gadgets, |
| impossible. This is particularly true if times are | | | | you can make sure that it is impossible to force |
| tight with money. After all, if you're too busy | | | | open sliding glass doors or windows anytime soon. |
| paying for your house in the first place, there | | | | This is an important step in home security |
| probably isn't all that much left over to make it | | | | because the longer it takes a criminal to force |
| possible to make the sort of improvements that | | | | open a window, the less of a chance he will hang |
| you are hoping on accomplishing at some point. | | | | around to try to break in more. |
| While it might make sense to hold off on major | | | | #3 - Leave the lights on. If you are going to be |
| renovations or expensive electronics, it never | | | | gone for a little while at night, be sure that you |
| makes sense to put safety and security on hold. | | | | leave the light on, so that it looks like someone is |
| After all, being sure that your house and family | | | | home. After all, it is a lot more difficult for |
| are properly taken care of is the main | | | | someone to rob a house where people are up |
| responsibility for any head of household, and it | | | | and about, so make it appear this way even |
| does not take too much money to install a simple | | | | when it's not the case. |
| alarm or to make sure that you are able to shut | | | | #4 - Set your home alarm system. This one is |
| and securely lock all doors and windows, making it | | | | simple. If you're going to invest in it, then you |
| tougher to break in. | | | | should be using it. And not all of them cost as |
| If you thought that it was outside of your budget | | | | much as people might think that they do. |
| to handle better steps forward in keeping your | | | | #5 - Protect your door hinges. A simple brass |
| house safe, here are seven simple steps that will | | | | plate that costs less than 20 dollars can be the |
| have you and your family a whole lot happier and | | | | difference between someone kicking down your |
| more worry-free, without spending a ton. | | | | door and someone not being able to break in. |
| #1 - Trim the bushes. And the trees, if you have | | | | Make that investment and make the right call to |
| a two-story house. The fact is that if there are | | | | do a little more for your safety that costs next |
| more secluded areas for robbers to hide, | | | | to nothing. |
| especially when attempting to break into | | | | #6 - Don't advertise what you don't have. If you |
| basement windows, you are more likely to | | | | do not actually have a home alarm system, don't |
| experience problems. The simple, low-cost step of | | | | put up stickers and signs. Robbers know the |
| keeping hedges, bushes, and trees trimmed | | | | difference, and you will be that much more of an |
| means less chances for them to take advantage | | | | easy target. |
| of the lay of the land towards breaking in without | | | | #7 - Remember to lock deadbolts, too. This is a |
| getting caught. | | | | major step towards keeping your house safer |
| #2 - Invest in a door or window jammer. With a | | | | that takes less than a second. |
| number of different ones made of metal that are | | | | |