Affordable Home Security Techniques | Frugal Dad

by Frugal Dad

A couple weeks ago our quiet neighborhood was turned upside down by a burglary in broad daylight. It seems a trio of opportunists broke into the back of a home and were in the process of loading up the content of the house into their car before a neighbor spotted them and notified authorities. It is unknown whether or not the homeowner had a security system , but it was a great reminder for neighbors that this is the time of year when many break-ins occur, which means it is time to consider home security.

One of the things that turns many frugal homeowners off from signing up with a security company are home security prices. Plans range from those with cheap, self-installed components to high-end plans with 24/7 monitoring.

Home security plans can certainly be a big deterrent to would-be burglars, but there are several affordable home security measures you can implement to your home safe.

1. Get a dog . Not only do they make a great companion, but dogs also make a great deterrent. As for the type of guard dog, the noisier the better! While a great big attack dog might scare away a prowler, most guys would be just afraid of a loud chiahuaha. In this case it really is the bark, not the bite, that is most important.

2. Avoid putting large boxes by the street around the holidays . This really applies any time of the year, but it is something I see most often around Christmas. People place two or three large boxes from a new plasma screen, a computer, and a stereo system down by the street. Looks pretty inviting to someone driving through the neighborhood looking for a target.

3. Make sure all windows and doors are locked . Sounds like good common sense, but it seems like nearly every crime report you hear says burglars entered through an unlocked window or door, often times on a second story or basement level. Just because the window is difficult to access, don’t assume the bad guys won’t take the time to try it rather than making noise breaking glass or forcing open a door. 4. Consider adding window and door alarms

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Affordable Home Security- News