Your home is your sanctuary, where you go to escape and feel safe enough to relax. But in today’s changing world, sometimes other people look to destroy that sense of peace and security. Crime can hit close to home, but it isn’t always in the big sort of way that makes headlines. People you know and allow to spend time in your house can commit small crimes, including petty thefts. Here are some ways you can safeguard yourself and your valuables.
Hide Your Valuables
Whether it’s a housekeeper or your teenager’s visiting friend, small valuables like jewelry and cash are easy to pick up and stuff in a pocket. Prescription drugs are another commonly stolen small item from homes. It may be discomforting to think about, but guests in your home may rifle through your things. Don’t make it easy for people to pocket items they find in your house. Hide or lock up the things you don’t want them to take. Locked drawers and safes are good options for securely storing your valuables.
Get a Security Camera
It’s simply not possible to be in all places at once. If you have people who spend time in your house while you’re away, like nannies, home contractors or pet sitters, you may rightfully have concerns about whether these people can be trusted with your precious belongings. That’s why it’s a good idea to consider security cameras Jacksonville to help watch when you can’t. You can get a much better sense of what’s happening in your absence and who can be trusted, which is especially important if you’ve suspected that some items may have turned up missing.
Secure Garages and Sheds
It’s not only what is inside your home that can be attractive to petty thieves. Your garage and shed contains some valuable items, too – which can be easily stolen. You may want to consider security cameras Jacksonville for outside the perimeter or your house and garage to deter potential theft. It’s also common for people to forget to lock garage doors or sheds, since it doesn’t seem like a big deal. But wandering kids in the neighborhood may check those doors, especially while you’re at work during the day, to see if they happen to be unlocked, and any bikes or small tools in there will be viewed as fair game.
Put Away Papers
Your private correspondence and personal documents seem like the kind of things that few people would be interested in reading. But never underestimate the possibility of nosy relatives trying to find out how much you owe on your credit cards, for example, or wanting to find out about that time you had to refinance your house. Destroy their ability to pry by finding a safe, secure place to store these personal papers. It’s a very good idea to keep copies of your most important documents, like house titles, birth certificates and insurance policies, in a locked, fireproof safe deposit box.
Lock Your Liquor
Your fully stocked liquor cabinet may be a hallmark of a well appointed home and its contents appreciated by your adult guests, but it’s also tempting to potential thieves. It’s crucial to keep teens from gaining access to your liquor because if the teens get caught with it and say they got it at your house, you could be liable. Why not consider security cameras Jacksonville or other forms of alarm systems to keep your booze securely locked away? One cool idea you might want to consider is having sensors installed on your liquor cabinet which will automatically send you a text message when someone opens the cabinet door.
Go High Tech
All the technology that we have at our fingertips today is good for much more than just instant messaging, smartphones and automatic appliances. A lot of the technology we have can be used to help us keep our lives more secure. Electronic sensors linked to home security alarms can guard against intruders, and can send notifications of activity by email or text messaging. Security cameras Jacksonville can help you guard your house and your belongings with the best technology has to offer.