Home security tips have been coming from almost everywhere ever since home break-ins and burglary crimes became violent and many this summer. Here are twelve top tips from Auto Club and EARTHtimes.org in helping families and homeowners prevent home burglaries:

“1. Always lock your doors. Secure all doors and windows before you leave. Use deadbolts, dowels, locking pins in sliding glass doors and windows to keep them from being pried open. Slowing down a would-be burglar will likely make them seek another home that’s easier to break into.

2. If possible, install a monitored alarm system in your home. You may be eligible for a reduction on your insurance rates after the system is installed. The Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club offers such a discount. Make sure your home insurance is up to date and provides adequate coverage if you own luxury goods, expensive jewelry and electronics. Check to see if you need an additional rider or floater insurance policy for those items from your Auto Club or other insurance representative.

3. Keep the exterior of your home and yard well lit with low-wattage outdoor lighting.

4. Close and lock the garage door. Side garage doors should be solid, without any glass and equipped with a strong deadbolt.

5. Don’t advertise that you are going out of town. Stop all deliveries, mail and newspapers, or ask a trustworthy neighbor or friend to pick them up for you. Don’t let mail, including bank statements and credit card offers, sit in the mailbox to advertise you are away and tempt a thief to steal your identity.

6. Use automatic timers with inside lamps and a radio. Set them to come on at random times.

7. Remove spare keys from outside your home, especially near the front door or under a welcome mat.

8. Trim bushes in front of entrances, including windows. This eliminates a burglar’s ability to hide while breaking in.

9. Keep some blinds up and curtains open to keep up normal appearances. Put away personal documents, and place critical documents in a safety deposit box or leave them with a relative. Hide expensive jewelry or place in a safety deposit box at your bank.

10. If you have just moved into your home, change the front door lock.

11. Many thefts are perpetrated by individuals who may have access to your home. If possible, conduct background checks and closely monitor those who may be working inside your residence.

12. Neighborhood Watch programs are great deterrents. If your neighborhood doesn’t have one, volunteer to start one with your local police department before leaving town or ask a trustworthy neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you are away.“

Following the brutal home invasion at Cheshire, citizens and homeowners are being advised to be more careful than ever, especially in securing their home. Lots of experts are now more critical when it comes to home security, too.

Jim Severine, for example, the Chief of Security at Select Key Holder’s Home Surveillance, voiced out many specific reminders in home security and safety:

““Understandably, this incident that authorities are calling isolated has caused panic. Precautions that can be taken include; properly securing the house each night, windows and doors locked and if there is a security system, be sure to arm it, placing the motion sensors on, in the lower level, where most burglars gain access. Nearly 45% of CT. home’s burglarized last year had systems that were not activated and July & August see the most burglaries according to FBI statistics” said James Severine.

Other advice includes; Illuminating the exterior perimeters at night, place motion sensors near doors, close the curtains and blinds, leave a television flickering, and advertising that you have home security through window decals and signage, are all ways to detour a home invasion and burglary. Mr. Severine concluded; “Keep a cell phone, licensed weapon and pepper spray near your bed, out of reach of children.”“

Jim Severine’s also gave out reminders to homeowners and residents about activating their home security systems and making sure they are not fooled by intruders:

“1. Arm Security System doors while at home at all times day & Night.

2. Arm Security System Doors and activate motion sensors before going to bed.

3. Approximately 44% of CT. Homes burglarized in 2006 had systems that were not activated.

4. According to FBI statistics, July & August see most home burglaries.

3. TV/Radio flickering at night gives impression house is occuppied 4. Have a telephone code with friends and neighbors to alert them that there is a home invasion or intruder 4. Lock windows, pull shades, advertise alarm system in windows and front lawn, strong locks on doors, reinforced strike plates, reinforced window devices.

5. Have a plan in the event of a home invasion.

6. Don’t be fooled by someone posing as a legitimate representative from gas or electric company.“

Read the whole report on Jim Severine’s Home Security Tips here.

To those who value home security monitoring system that uses the Internet, there’s good news!

Home-Technology-Store.com and NextAlarm.com®, The Broadband Alarm Company®, have together made an innovative product that’s affordable and has high-quality VoIP-based alarm monitoring services for both residential homes and small businesses. They named this video monitoring service NEXTVIEW.

NEXTVIEW is simple to set up and manageable. It can be used on any existing alarm system that you’re using now. Each camera can be associated with one or more zones, and you can access the images through your cell phone. The system will take pictures every few minutes and it will go on a live video mode when there’s the alarm is triggered. You’ll be able to archive the videos and view them later on. NextAlarm also sees to it that they’ll be able to view the cameras when the alarm goes off to check on your home or for false alarms.

The monitoring system is also compatible with self-installed wireless cameras. NextAlarm is working to expand the compatibility of NEXTVIEW with other cameras.

NEXTVIEW is a very commendable for every family and business who need a god video surveillance system that won’t cost so much. The NEXTVIEW cameras start at $129.95 and the monthly service fee if $5.00. This already includes storage of video, snapshot images, and real-time video. And while it is compatible with other home security systems, NEXTVIEW can also be used alone for your security.

Homeowners who want to keep an eye on their home and family can now avail themselves of video cameras under $50 or get a sophisticated system for a bigger amount. Some homeowners buy about three cameras for $125-$175 at discount electronics stores and install it themselves, connecting them to a TV or a home computer.

With video cameras, a parent can easily watch for her children or a person could check upon his or her elderly parents even when they’re miles apart. Or you might just want to keep watch over a valuable car, or keep track of anyone who vandalizes your home.

Whatever the reason, the use of home videos has definitely been on the rise. It has a great advantage, which is that homeowners will be able to see firsthand what goes on inside their home.

The use of video security cameras first became popular in the late 1980s as cameras became smaller and more affordable. Nowadays, with the Internet revolution, video cameras once again surged upwards becaue of the need of people to monitor their homes from a distance.

The older we get, the more we want our independence. This is the same for senior citizens. A growing concern for the loved ones of senior citizens is how to look after them without invading too much on their privacy. What if you just want to check if your mom or dad took his or her medicine or has taken his or her meal already? What if your miles away from them and you’re concerned for their health?

QuietCare is a home health monitoring system which can be efficiently used for these cases. The monitoring system has been on the market for three years and is one of the rapidly emerging technological innovations in home monitoring solutions. Installation and activation amounts to $400, and the monthly service fee costs $149.95.

The QuietCare home health monitoring system consists of infrared motion sensors in the refrigerator, in the kitchen, inside and outside the bathroom, in the bedroom, and other activity areas.

With QuietCare, it will be possible for a loved one to check up on his or her mom anytime, even when they’re far apart. You can just monitor how your parent is doing by logging on to a password protected website and scanning a quick overview of your parent’s status. With the motion sensors in every activity area, you’ll be able to know whether your parent has been to the medicine dispenser, or to the fridge, or if she hasn’t moved from the bedroom, and so on.

The monitoring system is only recommended for those who are living alone, however. This is to help the system monitor the tracks of only one person, and that any motion can be traced to only one. There may also be an issue about the privacy of the elderly. But they don’t have to worry about that because there are no microphones and no cameras on the monitoring system. The sensors will be enough to inform your loved ones about activities.

You can know more or QuietCare home health monitoring system, visit www.QuietCare.com.