By: Jim Johnson

Most people would agree that the best home security system is one that effectively avoids the crime, or prevents it in the first place. Of course, it's a good idea to also have steps built into your home security plan that helps foil a break-in after it has already begun like a home security alarm system or a home safe. But the first line of defense should always involve some means of making the odds of your home being selected as the target of a burglar significantly lower. Here are a few tips to consider to help accomplish that:

1. Get a watch dog. It doesn't even have to be a large dog to be effective in preventing burglaries. Just try to think of it from the standpoint of the burglar. If you have two houses on the same street and one has a dog that barks when trouble is detected and the other doesn't, which one would you rather target? And dogs present a double threat to an intruder, because they not only make noise which is very undesirable from the criminal's viewpoint, but they can also attack and cause harm if they feel threatened enough. What burglar wants to put up with all of that, when speed and quiet are essential to getting the job done right?

2. Put up cameras outside the home in very strategic areas that appear to monitor all of the exterior entry and exit spots. Making these cameras very conspicuous from even a casual observance of your home can be very useful in lowering your chances of a break-in. In fact, some homeowners and shop keepers who feel that they cannot afford a security camera system have used fake cameras that look like the real thing and only cost $15 - $20 each to accomplish the same goal of trying to prevent the crime before it starts.

3. Neighborhood watch programs are incredibly effective ways to prevent crime. What burglar wants to risk being spotted by several neighbors as a potential threat in the neighborhood before he even has a chance to break in and steal something? Displaying a neighborhood watch sign in your yard is a great way to help fight crime in advance because it gives the impression that burglaries are much more risky in that area.

So when planning out your home security, take into account simple measures that can be read as a clear signal that your home is not ripe for an intrusion and that criminals would find the going hard if they decided to try to break into your home.

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