I own my own auto repair shop and have done rather well with it over the years. About a year ago, some of the cars parked outside of my garage were broken into and some things were stolen out of them. Since they were parked on my property, my insurance had to cover the cost of replacement which made my rates go up. I had to install a security system to appease the insurance company and provide my customers with the peace of mind that their vehicles would be safe with me. Learn more about securing an auto repair shop and parking lot on my blog.
In today's uncertain economic times, everyone is trying to find ways to save money. If cutting back on home security expenses is important to you, consider some of the following tried and true amateur remedies.
Get A Dog
A dog is probably the most effective deterrent for burglars and thieves. If you adopt your dog as a young puppy, you can start from scratch as you train it to bark at potential intruders. An adult dog may be a bit more difficult to retrain, but enrolling your dog with a specialty trainer should do the trick. But be vigilant in your training methods or you will just end up with a barking machine that cannot differentiate between the UPS driver and a burglar with a flashlight at 2 a.m.
Trade Up For A Guard Dog
If your dog is simply not an effective watchdog, consider a guard dog that is trained to not just alert you to the presence of intruders but to attack and neutralize them too. Larger breeds like dobermans, rottweilers, and German shepherds are more physically capable of overpowering a thief. Keep in mind that professional training is a bit more expensive but should pay for itself over time. Also, consider raising your homeowner's liability coverage to protect you in the event your guard dog attacks and injures an innocent bystander.
Install A Security Camera
Installing your own security camera is pretty simple. Although it is not intended to actually deter thieves, any footage can give you additional proof of the fact you were robbed of most of your electronics and other valuable household contents. If you're lucky and the camera was correctly installed, the lighting was good, and the thief looked directly into the camera or parked the getaway vehicle with the license plate in view, you might be able to find out who robbed you. Finally, if your children did not tamper with the camera and make their own video production, the sight of the camera hanging over the front porch should discourage would-be robbers from entering your home.
Extra Dead Bolts
They say a thief will enter at any point of least resistance, so putting extra dead bolts on your exterior doors and windows will help prevent a break-in. True peace of mind is worth the extra hassle of locking and unlocking multiple locks each time you enter and leave your own home. Don't forget to make extra copies of the keys for all members of your family. Hopefully any thieves do not consider using something as simple as a baseball bat or a rock to just break the window and get in anyway. If so, your watch dog can alert you and hopefully scare the trespassers away.
These easy home remedies, especially when combined, should help prevent any break-ins or burglaries. If they don't work and don't help you save money, call a professional to learn about home security packages.
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