Securing your property isn't always as easy as just calling a home alarm contractor and getting a system installed. There are many considerations to make, of which technological prevention is just a part. Among the most important are the psychological factors" to deterring theft. Figuring these out for your particular situation and implementing them to keep your home secure can seem like a full time job. But with a little planning, the task is made much easier. Taking the time to review some of the important steps necessary to keep your home and family safe only takes a few minutes, and is worth your time.

As mentioned above, one of the most important battles any homeowner fights is making his home unappealing to a thief. This can be accomplished on a number of different fronts. The logic is simple - the more reasons you give a burglar to think twice about breaking into your home, the more likely he is to look elsewhere. This logic of course, leads to the first point. If your house isn't "on the list," but your neighborhood is, your neighbors are in jeopardy too. One of the best things you can do to prevent theft is be proactive with your neighbors. Team together to keep your street well lit and allow clear views between homes. If there are families that you particularly trust, start an email list or an online forum to keep each other posted on when you're leaving town. This will allow your neighbors to realize and react if something's out of place. If they don't have any idea that you're gone, there's little they can do to report a burglary.

Once you've gotten on the same page with your neighbors about keeping up with security, it's time to implement some basic security features. These should include outdoor motion lights at several places on the property. This simple step is widely used because it's extremely effective. Another important move is to evaluate your door and window locks. Make sure the mechanism is working properly, and not corroding. Good thieves can spot cheap and older locks, and they make great targets for a "smash and grab" job. Likewise, making sure that windows aren't frequently left open when leaving the home is important, as is verifying that sliding doors are actually locking like they should.

Finally, it's often worth considering the installation of a home alarm system to provide a technological line of defense for security. Home security systems are easily installed by professional contractors, and the cost of the equipment has come down substantially in recent years. In fact, with the purchase of professional alarm monitoring, many times the equipment is actually included in the price. Glass break and door alarms along with a motion detector is the typical setup for most residences with a home alarm today.