Your home is your sanctuary. It’s where you and your family build a life together. It’s the place you go when you need a break from the hustle and bustle that everyday life brings. It’s a safe space to relax and breathe. This is why it’s so important to protect against burglaries. While it is one of the most preventable crimes, burglaries are also unnervingly more common than you might think. In fact, in the United States a burglary occurs roughly every 15 seconds. The worst aspect of these incidents aren’t the physical items that you loose, it’s the peace of mind and safety that tends to dissolve.

We hate thinking about the possibility of burglaries, but the reality of the world shows us that it can happen. If you don’t currently have a home alarm system to protect you and your family, it’s time to start looking at your options. Unfortunately, there are an overwhelming amount of choices on the Internet, which tends to confuse you rather than comfort you. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about burglar alarms for your home.

Simple Self-Monitored Audible Alarms

The first type of burglar alarms available for residential homes is a basic home security system that can be installed by you. The best part about these systems is that they are inexpensive and allow you to take matters into your own hand. All you need to do is head to your local home improvement store and browse the options available. There are a lot of choices, so make sure that you know what features you want before heading to the store to narrow your choices. The sales team in each department is usually very knowledgeable so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

The downfall to a lot of simple DIY burglar alarms is that the responsibility for calling authorities often lies in your hands. This means that you will need to constantly have access to whatever device your home system is linked to as well as the ability to make a call when needed. Audible DIY alarms will make a lot of noise, which could scare off an intruder, but doesn’t do much else. They are better than nothing, but aren’t top of the line.

This is why when browsing you should look for a few basic features. First, try and find a burglar alarm that has a long range and loud alarm. This will give you much more flexibility in placement as well as a larger area of security. Second, find something that has a professional monitoring system. When you tie your alarm systems to your phone and have that as the only option, you risk things happening when your phone is dead, on silent, forgotten at home, etc. It’s great to keep your options open without having to go back and purchase an entire new system.

Self-Monitored Home Automation Alarms

The next step up from simple alarm systems is adding a connected alert system and home automation. These alarms are connected using cellular and will alert you, and whoever else you have on file, if your alarm is activated. It can work almost like a calling tree, going from one contact to the next and playing a recorded message of what actions you’d prefer to take. Home automation allows you to communicate with voice commands and includes a variety of optional features. Some of which include:

• Garage door access
• Smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector
• Sensors for broken glass or water damage

The good thing about these types of alarms is that they are still quite inexpensive, however you need to have access to a phone. They can also be disarmed if an intruder knows what to look for and you’ll still need to contact authorities yourself.

Comprehensive 24/7 Remotely Monitored Alarms

If you want the best coverage and a high degree of peace of mind, we recommend getting a comprehensive alarm that can be remotely monitored and includes automated alerts. These alarms need to be professionally installed, and may be less to install than a simple DIY system, but they will offer you unsurpassed protection and control.

The biggest difference between these and some we’ve covered is that they will alert authorities soon after your home’s alarm is activated. This means that you can relax and know that regardless of where you are in the world, someone is going to be able to take care of the problems at home. Self-monitored systems just don’t add up to this type of protection when you are away. Additionally, comprehensive alarm systems also work with other aspects of your home to make sure that it is protected from more than just home burglary. For instance, if your smoke alarm happens get activated, your local fire department is immediately notified so they can respond to the scene and make sure occupants are notified.

Some of the added features that come in compressive burglar systems include, but aren’t limited to:

• Motion detectors for both inside and outside your home
• Standby power in case your main power source is cut or out
• Smartphone control for multiple different types of interactive services
• Glass break detectors for all of your doors and windows
• Panic buttons for conveniently alerting authorities if you see or hear someone before a break in
• Outdoor gate contact and motion detector activated lightings
• Water probe for additional security in case of water damage
• Easy to use smart touch screens with the option of additional panels
• Video doorbells with two-way audio access
• CCTV for both indoor and outdoor your home
• Remote thermostat, to save energy.
• Carbon monoxide or natural gas detection.

The opportunities are endless with a professionally installed burglar system. You just need to know what you’re looking for and make sure you find a company you can trust.

Some Basic Tips

In addition to making sure that your home is protected with a burglar alarm, there are a few things you can do to help lower the chance of a home invasion.

Never Advertise Your Absence

We’ve all seen Home Alone and know that the homes that Harry and Marv attempted to target were empty. This holds true across most home invasions – thieves look for homes that are empty because it’s easier for them and has less risk involved. Some ways to make your home look occupied while you’re away include:

• Automatic timers for lights throughout your home built into our system
• An automatic timer for your television during the evening built into our system
• Call forwarding from your landline to your cell phone
• Have a neighbor get your mail and newspaper so it looks like someone is home collecting them
• See if your neighbor will take out your trash every now and then
• Look into automatic drapes so you can open and close them periodically through an application
• A Forest Yard sign is the first and best way to announce you are protected.

Make Breaking in Tough

In addition to making sure that your home is secured with a burglar alarm, make it difficult to break into. We’re talking locked doors and windows, doors with quality deadbolts and extra measures to ensure that your doors are reinforced. If your doors are difficult to break through, burglars won’t stick around.

Keep Visibility High

If your home is very visible and doesn’t include a lot of places for potential burglars to hide it will be more protected. When there is no cover, and more chance of being seen, the risk for home invaders is much higher and not worth the chance. Take some of these precautions to keep your visibility high:

• Make sure all of your trees and bushes near doors and windows are trimmed and orderly
• Don’t have any shrubbery covering windows, as it is the perfect place for thieves to hide
• Use motion sensor security lighting so that bright lights turn on whenever movement is detected
• Make sure there is outdoor lighting illuminating every door that leads to your home

Notify Neighborhood Friends

Knowing your neighbors is extremely beneficial in cases of home security. When you notify your neighbors, your support system grows exponentially. Not only can they help you with some of the things mentioned above, but they can also work as an extra pair of eyes. Having a neighborhood that works together can help you and your loved ones stay safe and secure, no matter what.

Conclusion

Regardless of where you live, you’ll want to make sure that your home is protected. While there are some precautions you can take to decrease the chances of a home burglary, the best security measure out there is a burglar alarm. Luckily, at Forest Security, we offer comprehensive and affordable packages for every family’s budgets. From smart systems to high-tech comprehensive systems, we have something for everyone. Give us a call today and our consultants will be able to discuss your available options or schedule a walk through. You can reach us at 708-452-2000 or by visiting our website at www.forestsecurity.com.