From reality-television shows like Real Housewives and The Hills to fictional TV programs of recent years such as The O.
C.
, it seems like everyone in America has seen the inner workings of a gated community from their television set.
It's no secret that gated communities are expensive and luxurious, but did you know that as important as the glitz and glamour is, the safety is one of the number one choices for that sort of lifestyle? Think about the homes out in Los Angeles with extensive fences and security guards--it's like that, but for an entire community.
You don't have to live in a gated community to benefit from the cutting-edge home security techniques they've figured out.
Some of them aren't even that cutting-edge, really, it's just an excellent common-sense approach.
You see, one of the number one ways to prevent a robbery is simply convincing the robber that your home isn't worth it.
You don't do this literally, by talking to him, but rather physically, by the way you present your home.
Open windows, a lack of stickers and signs from a home security company, and all the lights off after dark.
Doesn't that sound like an easier house to break into than one with any sort of gate, perhaps with a "beware of dog" sign, lights blazing, and doors and windows with security system stickers securely shut.
The difference between those two homes is what a gated community manages to accomplish just by existing.
The homes inside might leave their doors unlocked, but because there's a physical barrier between them and the outside world, and a gate where a security officer checks with people entering and leaving the neighborhood, a sense of security is in place.
Let's use the lessons we've learned from gated communities and their sense of security for planning home security in all neighborhoods.
First, get to know your neighbors.
Set up some sort of neighborhood watch.
When more than one set of eyes is patrolling the neighborhood, chances are much less of any sort of crime.
After looking to your neighbors, look to yourself.
What better ways are there to secure your home? Do a walk-around with family members, and note the problem spots.
Is there a tree or bushes blocking the view of the front door from the street? Trim it down so that no one has a simple cover while they're trying to break into your home.
Do you have a fence that's in need of some repairs? Get out there with a fresh coat of paint and a hammer and nails and fix it up to look brand new.
It doesn't need to be six-feet high and have barbed wire to provide your home with extra protection--it's a measure of security that depends on the psychological.
Another important step, after checking the outside of your home, is to do a walk-through of the inside.
Even in the fanciest of neighborhoods, you're not likely to catch a view of their most prized possessions from the street.
That's because people with expensive computer systems and fancy televisions don't want to advertise the contents of their home.
Likewise, if you have a choice between hanging a television in a room that's easily seen from the street, or in another room that's more secluded, opt for the seclusion.
You don't want to let anyone know what's worth taking in your home.
The idea is to be the less desirable house.
Along those lines, make sure to shut and lock all doors and windows when you're going to sleep or leaving the house, and if you have a home alarm, arm it! Open windows and unlocked doors are an invitation that your home is much easier to rob than someone who took the time to make it more difficult for a thief to enter their residence.
C.
, it seems like everyone in America has seen the inner workings of a gated community from their television set.
It's no secret that gated communities are expensive and luxurious, but did you know that as important as the glitz and glamour is, the safety is one of the number one choices for that sort of lifestyle? Think about the homes out in Los Angeles with extensive fences and security guards--it's like that, but for an entire community.
You don't have to live in a gated community to benefit from the cutting-edge home security techniques they've figured out.
Some of them aren't even that cutting-edge, really, it's just an excellent common-sense approach.
You see, one of the number one ways to prevent a robbery is simply convincing the robber that your home isn't worth it.
You don't do this literally, by talking to him, but rather physically, by the way you present your home.
Open windows, a lack of stickers and signs from a home security company, and all the lights off after dark.
Doesn't that sound like an easier house to break into than one with any sort of gate, perhaps with a "beware of dog" sign, lights blazing, and doors and windows with security system stickers securely shut.
The difference between those two homes is what a gated community manages to accomplish just by existing.
The homes inside might leave their doors unlocked, but because there's a physical barrier between them and the outside world, and a gate where a security officer checks with people entering and leaving the neighborhood, a sense of security is in place.
Let's use the lessons we've learned from gated communities and their sense of security for planning home security in all neighborhoods.
First, get to know your neighbors.
Set up some sort of neighborhood watch.
When more than one set of eyes is patrolling the neighborhood, chances are much less of any sort of crime.
After looking to your neighbors, look to yourself.
What better ways are there to secure your home? Do a walk-around with family members, and note the problem spots.
Is there a tree or bushes blocking the view of the front door from the street? Trim it down so that no one has a simple cover while they're trying to break into your home.
Do you have a fence that's in need of some repairs? Get out there with a fresh coat of paint and a hammer and nails and fix it up to look brand new.
It doesn't need to be six-feet high and have barbed wire to provide your home with extra protection--it's a measure of security that depends on the psychological.
Another important step, after checking the outside of your home, is to do a walk-through of the inside.
Even in the fanciest of neighborhoods, you're not likely to catch a view of their most prized possessions from the street.
That's because people with expensive computer systems and fancy televisions don't want to advertise the contents of their home.
Likewise, if you have a choice between hanging a television in a room that's easily seen from the street, or in another room that's more secluded, opt for the seclusion.
You don't want to let anyone know what's worth taking in your home.
The idea is to be the less desirable house.
Along those lines, make sure to shut and lock all doors and windows when you're going to sleep or leaving the house, and if you have a home alarm, arm it! Open windows and unlocked doors are an invitation that your home is much easier to rob than someone who took the time to make it more difficult for a thief to enter their residence.
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