It is important to feel safe inside your home during the day and night, so you should find ways to prevent home invasions from criminals. Here are several ways to make your home more safe and secure.

Increase the Exterior and Interior Lighting

Today, it is easy to install additional interior and exterior lighting to deter thieves. You can find inexpensive solar lights to attach to the siding of your home, and there are also affordable stake lights that you can insert into the ground around windows and doorways. Inside your home, you can have lamps that turn on and off automatically at certain times to make it seem as though someone is at home.

Keep Trees and Shrubs Trimmed

Criminals often look for houses that have overgrown trees and shrubs where they can hide to break the glass on a window or to push open a door. Use pruning shears to cut away long branches and leafy foliage so that anyone passing by your home will notice someone lurking around. By having the foliage trimmed around your home, you are also less likely to have a physical attack from a criminal who is hiding behind a tree or shrub.

Install New Windows and Window Frames

If your home has flimsy old-fashioned windows, then it is easy for a criminal to break the glass. After breaking the glass, a thief can reach inside to cut the window screens before lifting the windowpanes. When a home has degrading window frames, a criminal can tear apart the wood or metal to get inside your home. New double-pane windows are more difficult for a criminal to break into.

Get New Locks for Doors and Windows

Contact a locksmith to have new locks installed on the doors and windows of your home. A locksmith can walk through your home to offer advice concerning the installation of locks on a variety of window or door styles. Make sure to install locks on basement windows and garage doors to provide the ultimate protection for your family.

Stop Deliveries of Mail and Newspapers

Don’t permit mail and newspapers to pile up inside your mailbox or on your front porch. If you know that you are going on a family vacation or business trip, then contact a post office and newspaper company to stop deliveries. Alternatively, have a neighbor who you can call to collect the newspapers and mail from your home while you are away.

Avoid Having Pet Doors in Your Home

A criminal can enter a pet door in your home to steal valuables such as cash and jewelry. After the criminal is inside your home, he can open the larger doors from the inside to remove items such as televisions or computers. Remember that a thief can enter your pet’s door while you are inside the home or away from home.

Don’t Leave Extra Keys Outside Your Home

Potential thieves know that some homeowners will leave keys in easy to find locations such as under flowerpots or fake rocks. It is never a good idea to leave keys outside your home because it makes it too easy for someone to break into your home. In addition, you should avoid giving your keys to numerous neighbors and relatives who might lose the items.

Install Home Security Systems to Prevent Burglaries

You can find affordable home security systems like AMP Security and similar companies that have basic alarms for the doors and windows. There are also deluxe security systems that will notify you when a criminal breaks into your home. You can have additional features with a security system, including smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Contact a home security system company to learn more about protecting your home.

You must conduct a home security inspection of your home once a month to find problems that require a repair. Check items such as locks, and make sure to continue trimming the trees or shrubs. In addition, you should practice using your new home security system to make sure that you know how to set the alarms.