The economy has been suffering for quite some time now and shows very little signs of improving soon. Unemployment has been on the rise and so have been prices. The result is that there has been a significant increase in the number of petty crimes (burglaries & thefts). While they are called petty crimes, the loss of $1500 electronic equipment is by no means ‘petty’. And while you can rely on law enforcement agencies, there is a lot more that you can do yourself. After all, you are the best person to protect your home. 

And keeping the economy and the budget crunches that you may have planned in mind, here are the 5 best ways to enhance your home security and prevent being burgled without spending more than $30 out of your pocket. 

1. Start an awareness program: Does each and every person in your home know how to operate, arm & disarm a home security system? If no is the answer then this is the time to teach them how to do it. Surprisingly enough, a major percentage of burglaries occur because the occupants of the house failed to arm their alarm system. Teach everyone, including kids.
2. Signboards and decals: Cheap and reliable, security signboards and decals are one of the best and most trusted ways to prevent a crime. In fact, you can very well start a neighborhood program and encourage your neighbors to put up these signboards as well. It wont cost you more than $20 to get a high quality illuminated signboard.
3. The Hustlers: A lot of criminals now use smooth talking techniques to enter your home as a guest rather than trying to break into it. They can come disguised as well dressed salesmen or even as an electrician. It helps to be well prepared especially when you are not at home. So train your kids to not open the door to any stranger when they are alone at home. The last thing that you need is a criminal waltzing in through your front door without any security system stopping him. And once again, I emphasize on point one mentioned above.
4. Protect the outside along with the inside: A lot of burglars now prefer to loot the garage or the storage shed rather than risk being caught inside the house. So, if you have neglected the protection for your garage, then please rethink your strategy and protect the outside of the home along with the inside. 
5. Adopt a pet: Apart from giving you endless hours of enjoyment and unconditional love, dogs can also protect your home. The mere presence of a dog can send shivers down the spine of any burglar. And no, we are not talking about some of the expensive breeds here. Even a normal barking dog is enough.  

See? It’s something that each one of you can do without having to spend too much money. Beat the recession and secure your home today.

Nothing beats the cool comfort of an air conditioner on a hot summer night. You can plug it on and instantly be transferred to a different climate zone. But hey, spare a thought for the home security, for the window air conditioner might just be the weakest link in your security setup.

‘Did you just say the ‘weakest link’? The air conditioner? How is that possible? My air conditioner is on the second floor. How would a thief gain access to it from the outside and even if he does, how can he move it? It weighs a ton’

Does that sound like you? If yes, then like most people, you are terribly underestimating the abilities of a burglar and also the tools available to him. Irrespective of where your air conditioner is situated, it can easily be accessed via a whole range of tools that burglars use. There are burglars who climb even up to the 15^th floor of high rises to break into a home. The second floor should be a cinch.

Most people secure the window air conditioner from the outside and leave it as it is from the inside. The result is that any thief or burglar can easily push it inside and then use the opening to enter your home. And, the worst part is that no security system integrates the window air conditioner into the alarm system. I mean, most people are unaware that it can be used to enter the house.  So how does one secure the window air conditioner to prevent access to the home?

Securing your window air conditioner

There are kits available in the market that allows you to secure the window air conditioner from both the outside as well as the inside. You can securely screw the air conditioner to the wall thereby preventing anybody from removing it or moving it from outside the house. The window air conditioner kit is relatively inexpensive and can guarantee you that no burglar can enter your home without tripping an alarm. Another thing that you would want to ensure is that the window cannot be raised above the air conditioner. This is another technique used by burglars to gain access to a home. If you have a wooden window then you can always install a wood screw into the stile at the top of the raised window. You can enhance the security level by using tempered glass.

So you see, there are aspects to the security of your home that you previously must not have even thought of.

If you are new to the home security market then chances are that you might be overwhelmed by the wide array of choices in the market. One term that you will hear frequently is a monitored home security system. It is termed as one of the most efficient forms of home security and hence costs higher than most ordinary systems. But are they worth the extra cost? Or is it just another marketing gimmick?

A monitored security alarm system is a system that is connected 24×7 to a remote monitoring service manned by security personnel. In case of an alarm, these security personnel will immediately contact the law enforcement agencies and they will be dispatched to your home. So how is it different from a normal alarm system and why the extra cost?

How it works

There are two scenarios that we can use to explain the obvious advantage of using a monitored security system over a more conventional one. Let’s look at each one of them.

1. An elderly couple stays alone at home and finds that the alarm has been triggered in the middle of the night. Almost immediately, panic sets in. Is it a false alarm? Or is someone trying to break in? Should I call the cops? Now where was that panic button on the keypad? It is easy to get confused. Also, in the unlikely event that the home is really being burgled, then there is very little reaction time for the person to call 911 and give his/her details. In such a scenario, a monitoring service can be a boon. A company representative will call the home immediately to check the status and the reason for the alarm being triggered and in case of an unsatisfactory response; will inform the law enforcement agencies instantly. If you have been trapped in a room in the house and are unable to get in touch with anyone, then the monitoring service can come to your aid.
2. In the second situation, let’s assume that you are not at home and the alarm is triggered. Almost immediately, security personnel from the monitoring company will be dispatched to your place. Or they will contact the police and a team of cops will be dispatched to your place to check. This can not only prevent a robbery and save your valuables and assets, but can also save the lives of your pets if you own them.

A monitoring service takes into account several factors before deciding on how to respond to an alarm. For example, an alarm that has been triggered at 3 am in the middle of the night is more likely to be set off by a burglar than an alarm that has been triggered in the evening at 5 pm when most people are at home. Also, the home owner can decide the immediate response that the monitoring company should undertake. Some families even give the monitoring company a list of friends or relatives that they can call in case of an alarm. It is also possible to get the monitoring company to activate the CCTV cameras when the alarm is triggered so that they can monitor the place remotely.

A reliable monitoring service can cost between $25 to $40 monthly and this extra cost may well be worth the extra features and comfort provided by this type of service. Some companies even offer a two to three year contract.