Securing the shed and other outbuildings are sometimes forgotten when locking up your home when going out or when at night. One should consider the value of property that he/she keeps in the shed (or outbuildings).

Police officers from Harlow Herald (UK) have the following tips for homeowners and residents in securing their sheds and outbuildings:

• Make sure you have a strong garden gate and always keep it locked
• Keep garden fences in good repair and consider having roses or spiky plants to deter burglars
• Lock away your gardening tools and ladders; if they are left insecure they could be stolen or even used to gain entry to your house
• Fit good quality locks and use silicone sealant to secure any windows in place
• Consider fitting an alarm to the outbuilding or shed if it contains high-value items
• Don’t store expensive equipment, such as golf clubs or fishing gear, in a shed without additional security
• Make your property identifiable by marking it with your postcode and house number (or the first two letters of the house name)
• Heavy machinery can be ‘anchored’ to the floor using motorcycle-type chains for extra security.

There have been some news that in a Hampshire town (UK) con artists are posing as home security sellers. Residents have received calls from canvassers who claim to be selling home security systems promoted by Hampshire Constabulary. The residents said that the home security systems offered by the callers were at a reduced price and would be directly connected to the police station.

Hampshire police has firmly stated that they do not endorse any home security systems or any home security company. They only offer crime prevention tips and home security advice.

This report will serve as another reminder to all homeowners and residents to first identify callers before giving out any information, especially where home security is concerned. Check with the caller or seller’s company first before giving him/her what he needs.

Research and Markets from Dublin, Ireland, is currently offering Home Systems: Home Security. It is a comprehensive analysis of residential security marketplace. It includes the profiles of major equipment and monitoring companies, key trends in the industry and industry layers, forecasts, and analysis of consumers.

This analysis is in response to the growing popularity of the residential security industry. A lot of homes and countries are now beefing up their home security.

The topics covered in the report are the following:

• The Status of the Home Security Industry
• U.S. Householders and Security Systems
• Dealer Installed Security Distribution
• The Security Companies
• Salient Trends and Strategy Issues
• A U.S. Residential Security Forecast Summary
• The Resource Book
• Home Security in U.S. Households
• Security Distribution
• Housing Forecasts
• Security Systems Forecasts
• Selected Security and Equipment Providers

Successful and major home security companies are also featured and mentioned in the report:

• ADT Security Services, Inc.
• Brink’s Home Security
• Elk Products
• DSC
• Honeywell Security
• GE Security
• uControl
• Monitronics International, Inc.
• Protection One
• Visonic Technologies Ltd.

For more information, visit Research and Markets at http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c58342

One of the most important step in preventing burglaries and break-ins in your place is to understand how a burglar thinks, why he breaks in and steal, and how he can get into your home.

Burglar prefer to break into homes that have no one in them. Burglaries and break-ins usually occur during the day, when people are away at work, at school, or on vacation. of course, burglaries also sometimes occur at night when it’s clear to the burglar that no one’s home.

Most burglars are males, and they usually steal items that can easily be converted to cash. Of course, it would be more convenient for them to steal cash itself. They also go for expensive items like jewelry, laptop, watches, small expensive electronic devices, and others.

Home burglaries may seem random for us. But in reality, burglars have the choice of which house to break into. The chosen target is most usually an empty house, with lots of hiding places, an easy way in, and many routes in getting out.

So what do yo do to make your home unattractive to burglars?

• Always make it look like there’s someone home even when there’s no one.
• Lessen or eliminate the possible hiding places of a burglar, like big bushes or dark corners of your yard.
• Ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your home when you’re going away.
• A layered security will hinder a burglar into breaking in, since he’ll have a harder and longer time getting in than he would have liked.

WRBL News 3 has given their tips on keeping your home safe and secure!

• Make your home look occupied all the time.
• Always lock all doors and windows when you leave the house.
• Use automatic timers on lights when away from home (interior and exterior).
• Place radios on automatic timers and raise the volume so they can be heard outside.
• Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so that they can’t be heard outside.
• Never leave notes on your door that can tip off burglars.
• Trim back bushes so that any suspicious activity can be seen from the street.
• Do not hide spare keys outside your home; instead give one to a trusted neighbor.
• Do not provide your house keys to service people.
• Do not invite strangers into your home.
• Use a peephole to identify visitors before opening your door.
• Do not have money or jewelry lying out in view from a window. If possible, keep jewelry and other small valuables and important documents in a safe deposit box.
• Avoid telling others about the valuables in your home.
• Do not tell strangers your daily routines.
• If you have children, discuss home security with them, such as not talking with strangers about their home, its contents or family schedules.
• Always park your cars in the garage with the garage door shut. A burglar may otherwise notice a pattern that a closed garage door or no cars in the driveway means no one is home. Closing the garage door and having curtains or blinds on the garage windows also hides some of your belongings.
• Consider getting a dog. Not only are they great companions they are natural alarm systems. It’s not important whether it’s large or small as long as it likes to bark at strangers on your property.
• Invest in an alarm system. If you can’t afford an alarm system you can use official-looking alarm system stickers for your doors and windows (available at hardware stores) in the meantime.
• If you want to add a lock to your door, be sure that a burglar could not reach it by putting an arm through a broken window. Also note that spring locks, with the keyhole in the doorknob are easy to jimmy. It’s better to use a deadbolt lock with a one-inch throw, a 5- or 6- pin tumbler cylinder and a cylinder guard ring.

Source: WRBL News 3

Just this week, a report went out from Cheshire.co.uk about a special crime investigation by Messenger carried out with the Trafford police. There was an incident back in the neighborhood of Sale where burglars used a wheelbarrow left out on a backyard to carry a television off the resident’s house. These burglars apparently carried the television on the wheelbarrow across the neighborhood without being challenged!

When the Trafford police went to investigate, they were told by the residents that they thought the burglar was a repairman. No report was made to tell the authorities because of the misconception.

Two plain-clothes officers decided to try the burglar’s unchallenged thievery. They pushed a wheelbarrow with a plasma television and, within one hour of pushing through Sale’s busiest roads, they only got one call that reported their “suspicious activity” and a postman on his rounds was the only one who asked them what they were doing.

The two police officers decided to stir things up by offering the plasma television to the public for 50 pounds. Again, they got little response. People thought they were just being ridiculous or that they were drunk. the fact that it was stolen never crossed their minds.

After this incident, the authorities are again calling out to the public to take home security seriously. The police department is doing what they can, but they cannot do it alone. Always remember to lock your doors, shed, and not to leave your windows open. Keep your valuables out of sight from the outside. Lastly, report any suspicious activity that you see. A call that turns out to be a false alarm would be better than having a burglar on the loose.

To read more about the said report, click here.

Burglary crimes and break-ins are heating up this summer. If you don’t have a home security system, better get one now! Times have changed and burglars have become smarter when it comes to breaking into a home.

Layered security is one of the most effective tactics that you can use to avoid this, and a home security system can help a lot as a part of your layered security.

Home security systems today cost at least $300, usually a do-it-yourself home security system. If you’re looking for a home security that comes complete with installation and monitoring, it could cost you a lot more, coming up to $3,000. You should also inquire about the monthly monitoring fees so you can handle your budget well.

Once you’ve installed a home security system, don’t forget to contact your home insurance company to get hold of a discount with your home insurance.

Your home security system must be reliable, have a battery power back-up, smoke detector tie-in, and remote monitoring. You also need to have a land line phone and an automatic dialer that contacts your monitoring company when you’ve activated your home security system.

Check with your chosen home security company, too. Make sure the home security company you chose is reliable and efficient in their services. Check their websites, make inquiries, and ask for assurances. It won’t hurt you to be careful.