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If you own a home, you should learn how to protect yourself. It takes a lot of time and research if you look at the different sources of information. This article can help you glean the most important pieces of information that can help you develop the most effective home security plan.

You should always make sure your home looks like its occupied. Have electronics and lights with timers and set them to go off at various times. This will give the appearance that someone is at your house at all times. This can be a terrific method of securing your home and keeping burglars at bay.

When you buy a new home, be sure to have the locks changed. You have no clue how many people were given keys by the former owner. Find a good locksmith who can replace the lock and make a few copies of your key. Make sure you do the same thing if you lose your keys sometime.

Don't make a habit of giving strangers access to your home. Even if someone has a good story, requires help or has a great product to sell, ignore them. Some people will simply knock on your door to see whether or not there is a security system installed, and if there isn't, they may target you later when you're away.

Never open up your door to a stranger. Folks are always thinking up new schemes to get people to open the door so that they can commit their crimes. Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

Consult with your police department to find out about good programs for home protection. Many have quite a few helpful programs that you take, like on self-defense or other things related to your home. Discuss these programs with a local police officer to see if they're available in your area.

Avoid being shy. Talk to your neighbors. Keep an eye out for their houses, and request that they return the favor. Also consider listening in on some of the neighborhood gossip. You can learn of important security information, including if strangers have been lurking.

Always go with your gut when it comes to choosing a security firm. You are giving someone unlimited access to your home, so be sure the installer doesn't give you a bad vibe. There is nothing wrong with asking for a different technician if you're uneasy. After all, you're investing in a system that helps you to feel safe, so make sure the process involved in obtaining that system does the same.

Compared to city dwellers, you might feel more safe in your rural home. With neighbors so far away, it may seem like a tiny risk. That said, stranger things have happened.

Get flashlights with good batteries, and have them in each room in case you lose power. They give you and your family the opportunity to move around should the electricity go out. Teach your children how to properly use flashlights.

Never throw out boxes for expensive items until the day your trash is picked up. If you set these boxes out with the trash, thieves will know you have expensive items in your house.

Home security is a topic of vital importance but one about which not everybody knows a great deal. Learning about the subject is essential for anyone who is concerned about the security of their loves ones and possessions. Thanks to this article, you now know where to begin.